American Fiction
Summary
American Fiction ’s comedic take on the trappings that many Black creative person live in the entertainment industriousness is the most late addition to a music genre rife with similar movie . While filled with mass of sombre moments , American Fictionis a satirical funniness that sees a Black novelist indite a stereotypically contraband novel as a tongue - in - cheek review of the manufacture in which he ’s a part of , and his frustration associate with the critical and financial success it garners him . DespiteAmerican Fiction ’s smart as a whip storytelling , screaming moments , and stellar acting carrying out , it is n’t the only movie in the genre to overlay similar subjects .
Throughout cinematic history , opprobrious filmmakers have prided themselves on undertake controversial and often annul issues of race , class , socioeconomic gap , and America ’s other history through the lens of a perspective rarely seen in mainstream Hollywood . As such , smartly - pen films in various literary genre have invited whitened audiences to reassess their perspectives on issue of stratum and race while also boost Black viewers to take pride in their culture and story . WhileAmerican Fictionis the most late flick to psychoanalyze controversial subjects through the lense of comedy , passel of quality caustic remark have come before it that are just as affecting , thought - agitating , and impactful .
Do n’t have cameo dissipate you , American Fiction is packed with important commentary , clever jokes , and a story that ’ll have you coming back for more .
10Bowfinger (1999)
Frank Oz’s comedy examines mental health and the hypocrisy of overly ambitious entertainers
write by star Steve Martin and directed by Frank Oz , Bowfingersees Martin as a downtrodden B - motion-picture show film maker shin to finance his coming movie , thus force him to recur to unscrupulous means to get the film made . Bowfingerexamines the sincerity of one ’s mental wellness through Murphy ’s perpetually paranoid Kit Ramsey reference while simultaneously spotlight the hypocrisy of persistent film maker in a admonitory tale of exploitation . While Bowfinger feels Hollywood is take vantage of him , he fails to realize he ’s doing the same thing with Kit ’s meek twin brother , Jiff , thus highlightingBowfinger ’s - and , by sex act , American Fiction ’s themes of using in a in particular meta style .
9CB4 (1993)
Chris Rock stars in the satire about rappers and maintaining their image
CB4sees Chris Rock as Albert Brown / M.C. Gusto , a popular rapper who steals the identity of a notorious criminal offense lord to aid supercharge his sale and popularity even further . Despite focalize more on the entertainment industry , CB4still tackle standardized themes of identity operator and the politics associated with it while wind in obvious and not - so - obvious references to many popular rap acts and solo artists of the late eighty - early 90s . CB4 ’s mockumentary style satire also underscore the ridiculous depthsthat many real - biography knock artist will drop to in purchase order to maintain an image that ’s ultimately meant to entertain people .
8Dear White People (2014)
Dear White People’s themes center around class, race, and the wealth gap’s impact on education
The lives of four Black students are chronicle in writer - director Justin Simien ’s satirical black comedy that essay race , stratum , and the identity government associated with masses of people of color being accept into prestigious establishment . As the name suggest , Dear White Peopleis gear toward a White audience just as much as any other , and the motion picture ’s sharp wit , clever duologue , and impeccable optical storytelling financial aid immensely in getting across its themes . moreover , the active relationships between the different calamitous students underscore an oft neglected conversation in the Black community -the dilemma of being considered Black enough while in following of upward social and economical mobility .
7Watermelon Man (1970)
Melvin Van Peebles’s 70s comedy examines race and identity politics
Melvin Van Peebles’sWatermelon Manis a satire that see a racist blank man named Jeff Gerber and the mischievousness that result after he step by step turns into a shameful man . Rife with many sharp joke and socioeconomic subtext , Watermelon Man ’s absurd plot and overt dialogue is effective in simulating the anti-Semite sensibilities that many Black Americans had to last and overcome during America ’s past . Additionally , Watermelon Manchallenges Black viewers to examine their station in life with a more decisive heart , and count what part they trifle in their culture ’s chequer reputation . Scathing and hilarious , Watermelon Manis one of Hollywood’smore unique takes on the government issue of race .
6Blazing Saddles (1974)
Mel Brooks’s classic comedy examines and critiques race and racism against the Western genre
blaze Saddlesis one of thebest Western comedy of all timeand the note is attributable to the film ’s superb acting execution , subversive activity of tropes closely affiliate with both western and comedies , and because of its witty screenplay . Blazing Saddlessees an unscrupulous bloodless politician devise a architectural plan to rent a Black sheriff for a racist town in an effort to run its citizens out of townspeople , thus granting him access to millions of dollars in real landed estate . Filled with visual laugh and double entendre gag , underneath the laughs lies a classic that intelligently watch over and critiques the cockeyed nature of racial discrimination , ring - like thinking , andone ’s identity element in America .
save and take aim by Mel Brooks , Blazing Saddles stars Cleavon Little as Bart , a black sheriff appointed in a small frontier town by Hedley Lamarr , a railroad homo who believes Bart ’s engagement will destabilize the town enough to repulse everyone out and allow him to build a new railroad channel through it . Instead , with the help of triggerman Jim the Waco Kid , Bart put to work to thwart Lamarr ’s schemes . Gene Wilder and Harvey Korman star alongside Little .
5Tropic Thunder (2008)
Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder challenges the impact Hollywood can have on an actor’s mental health
Tropic Thundersees a film crew accidentally becoming drag in a real - life war while shooting their upcoming state of war flick in Vietnam . Filled with many memorable performances , gags , and furiousness , Tropic Thunderoffers a fresh take on the cockeyed lengths Hollywood will sometimes go through to get a movie made . Chiefly among the absurdism on showing is Robert Downey Jr. ’s function as Kirk Lazarus , a White Australian actor , and his borderline obsession with portraying a Black man as accurately as possible . Downey Jr. ’s performance is instrumental in the film bring across its pointsabout the risk of Blackface and underrepresentation in mainstream Hollywood , thusjustifyingTropic Thunder ’s use of Blackface .
4Sorry To Bother You (2018)
Sorry to Bother You is Boots Riley’s scathing think-piece about capitalism and identity
Cast
dark to Bother Youis Boots Riley ’s 2018 critique of capitalist economy ’s shock on an overworked and underpaid guild , as well as an interrogation of Black millennials and their struggle to get ahead in America while also maintaining their Blackness . Filled with homages to the works of Michel Gondry , strong operation from its dramatis personae , and plenty of tongue - in - face jokes that effectively highlight the pic ’s themes , good-for-nothing to Bother Youis not only one of thebest anti - capitalistic moviesaround , but it ’s alsoan fantabulous cautionary tale about greed and its housing . As LaKeith Stanfiled ’s Cassius Green goes deeper down the socioeconomic rabbit hole , he loses sight of his morals and morality .
3Bamboozled (2000)
Spike Lee’s 2000 joint compares the modern day stereotypes in Hollywood to Jim Crow-era minstrelsy
Spike Lee’sBamboozledsees the auteur take on government issue of one struggling to maintain his integrity while also in by-line of position , fame , and riches , by comparing the gradual moral disintegration of its protagonist to that of Jim Crow - geological era minstrelsy . fill with much of Lee ’s common no - filter comment on racial discrimination and antiblack institutions , Bamboozledis unique in that it does n’t shy away from the role that its Black character play in perpetuating negative stereotype by highlighting the disorganisation in the community . While the main number inBamboozledstill lies in powerful mass abusing their place , the movie ’s insistence on showing the victims victimizing themselvesgivesBamboozledanother bed of comment .
2Putney Swope (1969)
Robert Downey Sr. critiques racism in politics and business in Putney Swope
Putney Swopesees a Black man named Putney by chance inherit the spot of chairwoman at a prestigious advertizing representation after its all White employees arrogantly vote for the one someone they assumed would never win , Putney . Robert Downey , Sr . ‘sPutney Swopeexamines the absurdity of the bedlam that ensuesafter the company ’s White nominal head assume the party wo n’t last under Putney ’s leading . Despite their worst fears , Putney ’s bizarre leaders style earns him the respect of many in a photographic film rife with commentary about the irrational fright of masses of colour rebel to gibbousness and being effective in role often seen as substantially reserved for White masses .
1Hollywood Shuffle (1987)
Rober Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle closes examines the stereotypes Black actors face in Hollywood casting
Hollywood Shufflesees a sinister actor name Bobby Taylor bit by bit become disillusioned with his aspirations of becoming a successful actor after find a train of racially insensitive role rooted innegative stereotype about Black hands . AlthoughHollywood Shuffle ’s bankruptcy to properly address the issues pertaining to stereotype of homosexuals and women in entertainment , the motion picture excels in portraying the potentially damaging impact that Hollywood ’s disconfirming stereotype have on both the contraband community and outsider percept of articulate community . Hollywood Shuffle ’s examination of smutty creatives defend their integrity while pursuing societal advancement is not only a trailblazer in Black movie house , butAmerican Fiction ’s success at carrying the torch solidifies its bequest .
Written and directed by Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles stars Cleavon Little as Bart, a black sheriff appointed in a small frontier town by Hedley Lamarr, a railroad man who believes Bart’s appointment will destabilize the town enough to drive everyone out and allow him to build a new railroad line through it. Instead, with the help of gunslinger Jim the Waco Kid, Bart works to thwart Lamarr’s schemes. Gene Wilder and Harvey Korman star alongside Little.
Written and directed by Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles stars Cleavon Little as Bart, a black sheriff appointed in a small frontier town by Hedley Lamarr, a railroad man who believes Bart’s appointment will destabilize the town enough to drive everyone out and allow him to build a new railroad line through it. Instead, with the help of gunslinger Jim the Waco Kid, Bart works to thwart Lamarr’s schemes. Gene Wilder and Harvey Korman star alongside Little.
