The Best Thing I’ve Seen In A While
American Fiction is the truth
Everyone loves to say, “I liked the book better than the movie.”
It accomplishes double-duty virtue signaling. Not only does it reveal that you know how to read books (kudos!), it also shows that you read the types of books that Hollywood gatekeepers deem worthy of adapting into major motion pictures. (There’s bonus points if those motion pictures are released during the November/December window when studios debut their Oscar bait.)
Well, on Wednesday night I saw a movie that made me say the opposite. I saw a movie that I liked better than the book: American Fiction. This is not to say that I didn’t like the book. I read the novel on which the film was based—Erasure by Percival Everett—in 2020. (Shout out my Notes list of books read for allowing me to access that year so quickly). It was one of the best things I read that year, and I recommended it widely. Erasure is immensely smart, cutting, clever, and funny.
The movie is even more smart, cutting, clever, and funny. And it also mixes in endearing. Towards the end (no spoiler!), Adam Brody’s character, a Hollywood director with aims of being “down,” talks about how movies aren’t the same thing as books. And American Fiction pulls at the heartstrings in the unique way that films can. There is a sweetness to the movie that wasn’t as memorable in Erasure. It’s a sweetness that sees the border with sappiness and delicately dances alongside it without ever dipping a toe in enemy territory.
Jeffrey Wright is amazing as the lead character Thelonious Ellison. But that’s not a surprise, Jeffrey Wright is amazing in everything he does. The person who is most impressive in my opinion is Cord Jefferson. In his directorial debut of a film he also adapted the screenplay for, the former Gawker (RIP) journalist drops a gem. Erasure deals with some third-rail material in a way that artfully holds a mirror up to society where the reflection isn’t that pretty (again, no spoilers). For Jefferson to turn that same material into a major motion picture and thread that needle in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking is a major feat.
Now I just hope that more people see this major feat. Our theater was only 20% full when we saw it. Perhaps awards season can help it build up some more momentum. In case it doesn’t, do yourself a favor and see it before its theatrical run ends.
5 Habits To Become A Beast In Your 30’s
The algorithm served me this one enough times that I caved. I forgot how much I enjoyed Prof G (miss me with mentions of his anti-portfolio).
TLDW: get stronger physically (shocking how few of my healthy friends don’t lift heavy shit) and therefore mentally, live in a city (JAT is a BK-based media organization, so we get it), talk to strangers (better if you live in a city), find a life partner, reach out to people you admire.
It’s that simple, but it’s not that easy. There’s a difference.
—Andrew
1. Frank & Tony (Vinyl Set)
2. Call Super & Shanti Celeste (Lente Kabinet Festival)
Becoming adept at browsing SoundCloud is not easy, but it’s where a lot of my favorite music exclusively lives. I found both of these deliberately, which always feels better than an algorithmic discovery (but you already know that type of thing is a point of pride for me). Each of these sets have been shared with and cosigned by two JAT super-readers whose taste I aspire and admire: brianyfg & clar, respectively.
I recommend putting the first one on while you’re working today. At some point, around the 30-minute mark, you’ll remember you put it on and thank me as your productivity and felicity kick up a few notches. The second is better suited for a workout or getting ready to party, if not while you’re partying.
—Andrew
Sitting on the floor (cushions)
At a dinner party with more guests than available seats, you can usually find me volunteering to eat my meal at the coffee table. I find floor sitting to be incredibly grounding and a welcome respite from the chair and couch sitting that dominate 21st century western life. A cushy rug is usually sufficient, as is a yoga mat or a pillow from the couch. But my strongest recommendation is getting yourself (and your guests) dedicated floor cushions. I splurged on two buckwheat-filled floor cushions from Zabu and have logged somewhere between 5 and 50 minutes per day on them. For a fun DIY project, I actually made three of my own (hmu to cop or for the recipe lol). They’re not nearly as beautiful as Myles’s hand-crafted pieces, but ⅔ of the way there (filling and liner are the exact same). Peace Cabin makes some, as does Christian Rathbone. Other people do too, some for much cheaper, but (1) I prefer the buckwheat fill of the Rathbone and Zabu cushions and (2) this newsletter doesn’t really endorse the cheaper version of things when the handcrafted version is available, for only a couple cocktails more. It’s Dry January anyway. Treat yourself!
—Andrew