Cord Jefferson directs Jeffrey Wright, John Ortiz and Sterling K. Brown in this satire where a middle class African American author invents a “street” pseudonym so he can sell a hot manuscript he wrote as a joke to expose the racist tastes of white run publishing houses.

Funny and that’s the main thing. I’ve heard critics complain there’s too much focus on the family dynamics away from the literary world but for me that was the richest flavour. Exemplary work from Wright and Brown. I’m not sure the messy, uneven final product deserves that sheer weight of prestige laid at its doorstep but as first movies go I do believe Cord Jefferson has the promise of a truly great one in him.

6

Perfect Double Bill: Bamboozled (2000)

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