2024 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Reasons to Watch 'American Fiction'
“American Fiction” won the 2024 Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, and honestly, it deserved to win more. The film is an adaptation of the literary work “Erasure” by Percival Everett. It is a satire that hilariously showcases America’s obsession with the Black struggle but also beautifully weaves a story of the love, connection, dissatisfaction, and triumphs of family.
The screenplay was written and directed by Cord Jefferson, both firsts for him. Seeing talent like this play out so poetically on the big screen is refreshing. Jefferson's speech was almost a challenge to Hollywood when he accepted his Oscar. He said, “I’ve been talking a lot about how many people passed on this movie and discussing it and I worry that sometimes [it] sounds vindictive, and I don’t want to be vindictive, I’m not a vindictive person anymore,” Jefferson continued. “I’ve worked very hard to not be vindictive anymore.”
“And it’s more a plea—it’s a plea to acknowledge and recognize that there are so many people out there who want the opportunity that I was given.... I understand that this is a risk-averse industry; I get it,” he said of the opportunity he received to have “American Fiction” made.
“But $200 million dollar movies are also a risk, you know?” he added. “And it doesn’t always work out but you take the risk anyway. And instead of making one $200 million dollar movie, try making 20 $10 million dollar movies or 50 $4 million dollar movies. Like, you can — there are so many people, I just feel so much joy being here, I felt so much joy making this movie, and I want other people to experience that joy, and they’re out there I promise you.”
“The next Martin Scorsese’s out there, the next Greta’s out there — both Gretas, the next Christopher Nolan’s out there I promise you. They just want a shot and we can give them one and this has changed my life. Thank you all who worked on this movie for trusting a 40-year-old Black guy who has never directed anything before. It’s changed my life.”
“American Fiction” is an important work. It’s bigger than winning awards. It’s shifting history and the status quo in Hollywood. And it's also nominated for a total of 7 NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Original Score for TV/Film and Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture.
Here are 5 reasons why “American Fiction” is a must-see.
Jeffrey Wright
Wright is one of those actors who elevate anything they are in. He does this and more as Monk in “American Fiction.” We follow Monk’s life as a flailing writer urged to write a “Black book.” And even though the book he writes creates the film's entire plot, it’s the backdrop and seemingly forefront of his life with his family that takes center stage. Losing his mother to dementia, balancing caregiving, losing a sibling, creating a relationship with another (as an adult), while fighting America’s racism and falling in love, Wright shines as a tortured soul through it all. Honestly, it’s some of his best work.
Every Character Has A Story
It isn’t easy to create characters that surround the many protagonists and give them full lives. While being inundated with Monk’s life, we meet many people in it, including Lorraine, the family’s house mother. Seemingly a background character, Lorraine was given a full history, a love story with enough tenderness to bring tears. And in a time when Monk and his brother need love the most, guess who shows up? Lorraine!
Issa Rae’s Cameo
Playing Sintara Golden, another Black author, a colleague of Monk’s–although Monk cannot stand her. She represents something he wants: success as a writer, but she also represents something he hates: a sellout. Monk believes that Golden’s work details stereotypes of Blackness that set Black people back. She caters to the tropes, the ghetto, the downtrodden and because of that, she’s become a big deal. Rae’s stoic nature makes her character all the more intriguing. It’s the perfect cameo.
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Sterling K. Brown Is A Phenom
This isn’t news. But in this role as Monk’s gay brother, Clifford, Brown is an absolute menace. Every single moment he’s on-screen, there’s this insane mix of delight and toxicity and makes for a delicious little brother trying to find his way storyline that one can’t help but be invested in.
No Slaves, Mammies, Or Despicable Men
When Black actors win Oscars for their portrayals, those roles are typically those that showcase slavery, Black women acting as mammy or Black men being the worst people in existence. No, not always, but it may be fair to say most of the time. It’s refreshing to see a film like “American Fiction” win, and the win doesn’t reflect these negatives.
