My Rating: 3.78/4 (aka Definitely worth your time)

One line summary: A novelist experiments with a new style to meet the cultural moment.

The Deets: I am surprised it took me so long to see this one because it has most of the ingredients I look for: great cast, witty script, some hilarious notes, and a heavy dose of cultural commentary without crossing too many lines. The trailer doesn’t do the movie justice, focusing largely on the “blackness” of the centerpiece novel; the bigger story is the universal one of family, identity, our struggle to be authentic, finding our voice, and of accepting that there will always be a chasm between high art and mass consumption – and that is ok. Jeffrey Wright is spot on, Sterling K Brown is divine (he is worth the ticket price alone), and Cord Jefferson clearly has that rare talent for finding the thin line between humor and offense.

Perfect for: If you’re into the work of Jeffrey Wright (because he dominates the film), and if you’re in the mood for an intelligent culture critique with heart.

Where to watch: As of this writing it’s included with Amazon Prime!

Food pairing: Let’s go with some spaghetti because it plays a minor role in a key scene.