A novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to di... Read allA novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.A novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 62 wins & 165 nominations total
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn a 2023 interview with Esquire, Cord Jefferson explained his approach to a key scene in the film and how the actors elevated it in unexpected ways: "We've all seen that scene of the writer pounding the keyboard frantically, then taking a big sip of coffee and getting back to it. That's how you depict somebody intensely writing. But I thought, 'We can't have that. It's tropey and silly, and it doesn't get the audience's minds going.' So why not have these characters manifest in front of him? When I wrote that scene, I wrote the language to be very silly. It had to be ridiculous so that everybody could see how stupid this book is and what a sham it is. Then we got Keith David and Okieriete Onaodowan, who are both such tremendous actors. All of the sudden, it wasn't silly anymore. They made it seem like the book might be good. I love what the scene became in their hands: suddenly you're questioning whether or not the book is good, which is evidence that something as ridiculous as this book could become a hit."
- GoofsIn the beginning of the movie Monk walks out a building whilst being on the phone and holding a coffee cup with a vertical print of the brand Dunkin Donut. Seconds later when he gets into a car, the logo on the cup is horizontally printed.
- Quotes
Sintara Golden: Potential is what people see when they think what's in front of them isn't good enough.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards (2024)
- SoundtracksWithout You
Written by Aubrey Johnson
Performed by Ace Spectrum
Published by Ace Spec Music
Courtesy of Mojo Music and Media
Featured review
The book is way better (and nastier)
Percival Everett's "Erasure" came out in 2001 as a response to the commercialization of rap culture and the ensuing in da ghetto stereotypes. This much belated adaptation, which would have been perfectly timed ten years ago, does a good job in bringing the main points across, but the novel is far more enjoyable and uncompromising.
I understand why the death of the protagonist's sister has been watered down, that part was the most difficult to accept in the original text. But the book he writes as a response is printed in full there, and I don't get why this was just briefly alluded to with a completely different characterization. In the real "My Pafology", the protagonist is a youngster with four kids by four mothers whom he abuses and cheats, and his downfall is copied from Richard Wright's "Native Son" replacing murder with rape. That is way more revealing as to the perverse satisfaction white Americans derive from confirming their stereotypes of the good-for-nothing black male, a service they compensate with recognition and money.
The film rushes through the talking points without giving due credit to its own title, the work of fiction it's based on. There is one nice add-on, a dialogue between the protagonist and the author of the stereotypical book that initially draws his ire, but overall those who have read "Erasure" will likely feel disappointed, while those who only watch the film will not know how much they've been missing.
I understand why the death of the protagonist's sister has been watered down, that part was the most difficult to accept in the original text. But the book he writes as a response is printed in full there, and I don't get why this was just briefly alluded to with a completely different characterization. In the real "My Pafology", the protagonist is a youngster with four kids by four mothers whom he abuses and cheats, and his downfall is copied from Richard Wright's "Native Son" replacing murder with rape. That is way more revealing as to the perverse satisfaction white Americans derive from confirming their stereotypes of the good-for-nothing black male, a service they compensate with recognition and money.
The film rushes through the talking points without giving due credit to its own title, the work of fiction it's based on. There is one nice add-on, a dialogue between the protagonist and the author of the stereotypical book that initially draws his ire, but overall those who have read "Erasure" will likely feel disappointed, while those who only watch the film will not know how much they've been missing.
helpful•71
- Radu_A
- Feb 10, 2024
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Американське чтиво
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $21,098,470
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $224,469
- Dec 17, 2023
- Gross worldwide
- $22,483,370
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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