Oscar nominated Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonius ‘Monk’ Ellison, a talented writer whose novels are not selling. He is frustrated with the establishment profiting from black writers pandering to a white audience by using tired and offensive tropes about the black experience. So, as a joke, he writes a new novel, full of outrageous black stereotypes, under a pseudonym. The publishers love it and it becomes his most successful work.
Cord Jefferson, who also directs, has written a very smart and funny script. The more Monk tries to sabotage the book, the more successful it becomes. A parallel story of Monk reconnecting with his family and starting a tentative relationship with his Mum’s neighbour, Coraline is weaved in nicely and that provides some heartfelt moments.
Wright has had a great career and it is good to see him get recognition, as he is excellent here. In fact, there is a very impressive ensemble including Erika Akexander as Coraline, John Ortiz as Monk’s agent, Tracee Ellis Ross as his sister and Miriam Shor as a vacuous publisher, a role not a million miles from the part she had in the sitcom Younger.
This is a funny and perceptive film that deserves the audience that the award nominations may deliver.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10