Summary

• American Fiction is a compelling drama film that explores the struggles of a Black author and professor, Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, as he navigates the literary world's expectations and his own artistic integrity.
• The film stands out with its exceptional cast and well-written characters, including standout performances from Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown.
• Alongside Monk's personal journey, the film delves into family dynamics and different perspectives, providing a thought-provoking exploration of race, art, and the challenges faced by Black creatives.

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers to American Fiction.

American Fiction is the feature-length debut of writer-director Cord Jefferson that adapts the 2001 Percival Everett novel, Erasure, with quality actors who deliver stellar performances. Like the 2001 novel, American Fiction centers around Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a Black university professor with aspirations to become a respected novelist, who finds himself forced to choose between writing novels that he believes in but doesn't sell, or writing a mediocre novel filled with negative stereotypes pertaining to Black people, since that's what every literary agency is looking for.

American Fiction is one of movies like American Fiction, the 2023 comedy firmly distinguishes itself from the rest thanks largely to its superb cast and well-written characters. While Monk is an intersting study regarding the conundrum that many Black creatives face, his family and professional colleagues help give the film different perspectives for Monk and the audience to consider.

Jeffrey Wright as Thelonius "Monk" Ellison

Monk uses his frustrations with the literary industry to write an accidental masterpiece.

Actor: Jeffrey Wright, 58, is an American character actor who began his career in film with a small role in the 1990 film, Presumed Innocent, and has since gone on to star in plenty of respected independent projects as well as big budget Hollywood blockbusters. As one of the industry's most prolific character actors, Wright has developed a reputation for being able to play anything from low-level street goons to historical figures, to one of 007's most trusted allies, to one of the best depictions of Jim Gordon.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Basquiat (1996), Shaft (2000), Broken Flowers (2005), Casino Royale (2006), Cadillac Records (2009), Boardwalk Empire (2013 - 2014), Westworld (2016 - 2022), The French Dispatch (2021), and The Batman (2022)

Character: Thelonious "Monk" Ellison is an austere university professor who works part-time toward his dream career as a novelist. Despite his best efforts, Monk finds himself forced to write a degrading novel titled, My Pafology, that leans heavily into negative stereotypes regarding the African-American community. A man of strong principles, Monk often pushes those close to him away when their ideologies don't align, but he gradually learns to temper his expectations of himself, the literary world, and his loved ones.

Tracee Ellis Ross as Lisa Ellison

Lisa is Monk's abrasive yet insightful sister.

Actor: Tracee Ellis Ross, 51, is an American actress whose breakout role came via the American sitcom, Girlfriends. Although primarily known for her comedic work, Ross has starred or featured in many TV shows, movies, and music videos portraying women of various backgrounds and temperaments, thus highlighting her range and eclectic style. In addition to her work as an actress, Ross is also known for her producing efforts; often helping women of color get their projects off the ground.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Daddy's Little Girls (2007), Girlfriends (2000 - 2008), Black-ish (2014 - 2022), Grown-ish (2018 - 2022), and Mixed-ish (2019 - 2021)

Character: Lisa is a doctor and Monk's sister, and despite her and Monk's personalities being completely different, they bond together much more than Monk does with his brother Cliff. Furthermore, in spite of Lisa's extroverted personality and party-girl sensibilities, she's often the voice of reason when helping the family settle disputes. Although her screen time is limited via her sudden death, Lisa's insightful viewpoints regarding Monk's predicament stick with him and help him feel less bad about his situation.

Issa Rae as Sintara Golden

Sintara is a well-respected writer in the literary world.

Actor: Issa Rae, 39, is an American actress who first burst onto the entertainment scene with her YouTube series, Awkward Black Girl, and has since gone on to loosely develop it into a TV series among a string of other notable projects. Known primarily for her ability to blend comedy and humor, Rae has established herself as one of the industry's funniest women while also displaying an incredible range with more provocative and dramatic roles.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl (2013 - 2014), Insecure (2016 - 2022), The Hate You Give, (2018), Little (2019), The Photograph (2020), Barbie (2023), and Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse (2023)

Character: Sintara Golden is a fellow writer in American Fiction who is perhaps best known for her award-winning novel, We's Lives in da Ghetto. Despite its subjects covered, Sintara displays an acute sense of self-awareness in her personal life and even encourages Monk to reassess his feelings about the industry as it will ultimately help him unload a lot of his baggage. While Sintara and Monk don't always see eye-to-eye on matters relating to race, Monk does acknowledge her skill as a writer despite how much it pains him to do so.

Sterling K. Brown as Clifford "Cliff" Ellison

Cliff is Monk's reckless yet ive brother.

Actor: Sterling K. Brown, 47, is an American actor who made his feature-length debut in the romantic comedy, Brown Sugar, starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. Since then, Brown has gone on to pick up roles in various big budget and smaller scale movies, TV shows, and music videos, and has even lent his voice to a few animated projects, thus showcasing his range. Despite being a Primetime Emmy winner, Brown still displays his affinity for smaller projects as seen with American Fiction.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016), This Is Us (2016 - 2022), Black Panther (2018), Frozen II (2019), and Invincible (2023)

Character: Cliff is Monk and Lisa's surgeon brother who, despite the issues in the family, is wrestling with his own drug problems and sexual identity. Nevertheless, Cliff sees the good in people and, despite Monk's rocky exterior, is always willing to lend words of encouragement to uplift him when he's at his lowest. Even when Monk and Coraline experience issues in their relationship, Cliff is the first one to help Monk forgive himself for his recent outbursts, thus helping his brother work toward mending things with Coraline.

Erika Alexander as Coraline

Coraline helps Monk come to with his predicament.

Actor: Erika Alexander, 54, is an American actress who began her career in the 1986 film, My Little Girl, as Joan. From there, Alexander has worked her way through both film and TV with notable appearances in both well-known projects and smaller, more obscure movies and TV shows. Furthermore, Alexander's abilities as a character actress have seen her seamlessly deliver strong performances in a diverse number of projects ranging from psychological thrillers and dramas to gut-busting comedies and feel-good sitcoms.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Living Single (1993 - 1998), Déjà Vu (2006), Get Out (2017), Law & Order (1990), Bosch (2016 - 2017), Insecure (2018), Black Lightning (2018 - 2019), and Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019 - 2023)

Character: As an attorney, Coraline is one of the more level-headed characters in American Fiction, working as a perfect contrast to the more emotional Monk. Moreover, Coraline is a resolute woman who doesn't hesitate to let Monk know when he's acting out of term, thus leading to them taking a break near the film's climax. Nevertheless, Coraline is willing to give Monk another chance and even goes as far as to help him find his mother when she's found wandering around the beach.

Leslie Alexander as Agnes Ellison

Agnes is the matriarch of the Ellison family.

Actor: Leslie Uggams, 80, is an American actress who is perhaps the most experienced actor in American Fiction, having started her film career before most of the film's actors were even born. In addition to her prolific work as a character actress, Uggams has also enjoyed success as a recording artist, recording records for Columbia, Atlantic, and Motown, among many others. Despite Uggams's age, she still keeps herself busy with many ing roles in both film and TV.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Roots (1977), Sugar Hill (1993), Deadpool (2016), Deadpool 2 (2018), Magnum P.I. (1987), Empire (2016 - 2020), Deadpool 3 (2024), and Fallout (2024)

Character: Agnes is Monk's mother and the matriarch of the family. She's snarky and a little sharp-tongued with her children, but she genuinely loves them unconditionally. However, as her memory starts to get spotty and the cognitive decline of age sets in, Monk steps in to care for her.

John Ortiz as Arthur

Arthur is Monk's slightly unscrupulous agent.

Actor: John Ortiz, 54, is an American character actor known for his ability to play any role with acute attention-to-detail, thus making him one of the industry's most in-demand actors. From smaller roles in TV police procedurals to modest Hollywood movie successes, Ortiz has demonstrated an impeccable work ethic for a little over three decades, and has solidified himself as one of the most talented artists in the industry.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Law & Order (1992), Carlito's Way (1993), Amistad (1997), Miami Vice (2006), American Gangster (2007), Public Enemies (2009), Fast & Furious (2009), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), César Chávez (2014), and Bumblebee (2018)

Character: Arthur is Monk's agent and the closest thing to a friend that he has outside his family. While Arthur understands Monk's moral hangups regarding the type of work he's expected to write, he gradually convinces Monk to set aside his pride, as My Pafology presents a rare opportunity for both men to better establish themselves in the literary world. In addition to his professional relationship with Monk, Arthur offers him solicited advice regarding his family, thus demonstrating that he genuinely cares about Monk.

Adam Brody as Wiley Valdespino

Wiley is a woke filmmaker who ardently believes he's creating a special movie.

Actor: Adamy Brody, 44, is an American actor best known for his prolific work in TV. While the actor has developed a respectable resume in the film world, he's more recognizable to most for his work in TV after the success of the popular series, The O.C. Nevertheless, Brody has demonstrated his range in movies, as his resume demonstrates his ability to handle action, drama, and horror with a flare apt for one of the industry's best character actors.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: The Ring (2002), The O.C. (2003 - 2007), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Jennifer's Body (2009), Shazam! (2019), and Scream (2022)

Character: Wiley Valdespino is a well-meaning director who can best be described as being way in over his head. Despite Monk's efforts to convince Wiley that My Pafology is a terrible idea for a book to adapt, Wiley insists that it's the kind of movie audiences need to see due to its timeliness. In spite of Wiley's cluelessness regarding Monk's intentions with My Pafology, he does demonstrate a sincere work ethic regarding the movie adaptation of My Pafology, as demonstrated when he and Monk test out multiple endings to ensure they make the best movie possible.

American Fiction ing Cast & Characters

Keith David as Willy the Wonker - Known primarily for his voice-over work as Spawn in the HBO aminated series Spawn (1997 - 1999) and as Goliath in Gargoyles (1994 - 1997), David has also appeared in movies such as The Thing (1982), Platoon (1986), and They Live (1988), thus solidifying himself as a versatile actor and voice-actor. Although his scene is brief alongside Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan, it is instrumental in helping the audience see how absurd My Pafology truly is.

Okieriete "Oak" Onaodowan as Van Go Jenkins - Acting alongside David in the My Pafology scene, Onaodowan plays Van Go Jenkins, a gangster who, despite his rough exterior, wishes that his absentee father would have played a more crucial role in his upbringing. A theater actor, Onaodowan is best known for portraying dual roles in Hamilton, as Hercules Mulligan and James Madison alongside Lin Manuel Miranda.

Myra Lucretia Taylor as Lorraine - An accomplished singer and actress, Taylor is a Tony Award-nominated actress notable for her work in the Broadway musical, Tina, in addition to her character work in film and TV. As the Ellison family's maid Lorraine, Taylor delivers a heartfelt performance that reinforces the idea of taking care of one's elders in their greatest time of need, as demonstrated when she helps Monk, Cliff, and Coraline find the missing Agnes near the film's climax.

Raymond Anthony Thomas as Maynard - Arguably one of the most prolific character actors in American Fiction, Thomas began his career in the 1986 movie, The Whoopee Boys, in a bit role before accruing more prominent ing roles in film and TV shows like Jacob's Ladder and Shutter Island. Thomas plays Maynard, a security officer and family friend of the Ellison family. In addition to his perpetually optimistic outlook on life, Maynard and Lorraine marry, thus prompting Monk to reassess his feelings about marriage and commitment.

Miriam Shor as Paula Baderman - Miriam Shor stars in American Fiction as Paula, one of the literary agents interested in Monk's novel, My Pafology, even going so far as to offer him a $5 million deal to purchase the rights for a movie adaptation. Shor's work extends as far back as 1999 with roles in Entropy, Bioshock, Jessica Jones, and Guardian' of the Galaxy Vol. 3.