Orion Pictures/T Street
Exclusive: Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut. american fantasy, It is changing its release plan from November 3, and limited opening until December 15.
MGM/MRC theatrical release starring Jeffrey Wright, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, Skylar Wright among others is a scathing satire on the publishing industry and its treatment of the serious works of black writers. One such writer is Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Wright). He travels back to his hometown of Boston to attend a book festival, but turnout is low in favor of another writing seminar with best-selling author Sentara Golden (Issa Rae). We live in da ghetto.
Originally, MGM was scheduled to expand on November 10-17. Now after a mid-December release, there will be an expansion on December 22nd. However, given the pic’s response outside of Toronto and winning the People’s Choice Award, I understand the studio is optimistic and wants to give the film the opportunity to capitalize on the rich holiday play period given the pic’s talk and playability.
Coming out of TIFF, the film currently has a score of 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Deadline film critic Valerie Complex wrote of the film in her review: “Perhaps the most poignant message American fantasy Delivers is about personal agency in a world that often seeks to define the stories of others. The media’s myopic view of black lives may never change, but individuals have the power to set their own narratives and boundaries. This film challenges viewers to think, question, and perhaps re-evaluate their perceptions of blackness.
The People’s Choice Award has been voted on at TIFF since 1978 and is often considered a harbinger of the Best Picture Oscar, and has been won by Best Picture Academy Award finalists such as The Nomad, The Green Book, 12 Years a Slave, The King’s Speech, Slumdog Millionaire, American Beauty And Fire vehicles. Among those who received nominations for Best Picture is last year’s winner Fabelmans Beside Belfast, Jojo Rabbit, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Room, La La Land, The Imitation Game, The Silver Playbook, Precious, Life Is Beautiful, Places in the Heart And The greatest joy
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