Movie Review | ‘American Fiction’ can’t overcome its tonal clash

Movie Review | ‘American Fiction’ can’t overcome its tonal clash

“American Fiction” is two movies masquerading as one, each of which may have been strong on its own but feels underdeveloped and fails to contribute to a cohesive whole. The debut feature from writer-director Cord Jefferson, “American Fiction” is adapted from the 2001 novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett. At least on the screen — “American Fiction” lands in theaters this week — the story of frustrated Black novelist Thelonious “Monk” Ellison is p…