This is one of those stories that delivers a message, one that shows sometimes how ridiculous we can be as people. Life works in mysterious ways, for instance when a publisher promotes a writer, because of their race and makes their content the most popular on the market, can puzzle the true readers on why this piece of art was even considered.
Previously published professor, Thelonious ‘Monk’ Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), is struggling with getting his new book published. He is finding that other authors are published with much less creativity. When his outburst and anger toward his students earns him a leave of absence. He is forced to take some time and go on vacation. From which he decides to go visit his mother, Agnes Ellison (Leslie Uggams), after he learns that she is struggling mentally. When he arrives to see his mother, he is able to see his sister Lisa Ellison (Tracee Ellis Ross), and his brother, Clifford Ellison (Sterling K. Brown) from Arizona, whom he has not seen in many years.
When he finds that his books that he previously published about the social economy keep getting placed in the black culture section of the bookstores, he decides that he needs to do something about it. Finding that the wealthy yuppie society loves books based on racial ethnicity, he decides to write one himself under a pen name. After Monk gets invited and accepts to be a judge of a prestigious award for best new author, he finds out that his book is one that he must vote on. Things begin to become interesting when one of the other judges, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), is a newly successful black author that also wrote a racially slang book that won the award the previous year. Working with his agent Arthur (John Ortiz), who knows that he wrote the book, gives him the advice to continue through the voting and see if it all works out.
New director and writer Cord Jefferson develops an interesting storyline that collides with many cultural mistakes that establishes a funny satire look at how people perceive race, writing, and fame. Putting together a character that is intellectually interested in literature but discovers that everyone else prefers something else makes things funny. Establishing this premise and being able to carry it out with some humor and a realistic outcome helps this film flow. Along with the excellent performance by the cast, allows this quest to be a successful masterpiece.
This dry humor adventure brings you to experience the life of this prominent professor who is missing what life has to offer, to finally discover that he needs to take another look and start again. Coming along on this journey will help you take a look at how we all perceive things differently and that we need to take things more lightly.
© 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Final Comment: I based my grade on a fun sarcastic storyline and a wonderful performance.
Stars 3.5 out of 5
An Orion Pictures Release Photo credit: Claire Folger © 2023 Orion Releasing LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Additional Film Information
Cast: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Adam Brody, Issa Rae, and Keith David.
Directed and Written by: Cord Jefferson
Genre: Comedy and Drama
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence.
Running Time: 1 hour and 57 minutes.
Release Date: December 22, 2023
Distributed By: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Release In: Standard
