Seriously Saturday Night At The Movies

SERIOUSLY SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES
Let's raise our intellects while we raise our glasses. We'll trade insights during the post-film discussion, as we explore mind-expanding documentaries and thought-provoking films.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?
We open at 4:45 PT for a little meet & greet, then at 5:00 we 'go dark' (turn off our Zoom mics and cameras) and view the film on our individual TVs, computers, or other devices. Ten minutes after the movie ends (to allow for a trip to the fridge, phone call, etc.), we return to Zoom, turn on our mics and cameras, and begin the discussion. Of course you can watch the film ahead of time, if you prefer, and join just for the discussion.

THIS WEEK
American Fiction, directed by Cord Jefferson
1 hr 57 min
Available on various streaming platforms found here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/untitled-cord-jefferson-film

Fed up with the establishment profiting off “Black” entertainment, novelist Thelonius 'Monk' Ellison sets out to change the status quo. The African American upper middle class writer decides to write a satirical novel, but when readers take it at face value, it soon becomes a symbol of everything he claims to hate.

"The mass market desire for Black life in art to be equivalent to Black strife is not a new concept; [Director] Jefferson's film taps into the motivating context of that bias in today's world. As Monk reveals the intricacies and blatant stains blemishing the fabric of the literary market, Jeffrey Wright gives an incredible, nuanced performance, nailing Monk's swallowed feelings and the emotions bubbling beneath his intellectualized, repressed responses. He stews in just about every scene he's in, and, in the few where he starts to lash out, Wright makes clear the pain beneath the petulance. He's certainly unlikable. He's often rude and condescending, but we root for him anyway because moments of learning follow in the footsteps of his flaws. And, simply, we also think he's justified: his frustrations often match our own." - Peyton Robinson, RogerEbert.com