20s Movie Review - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Director: George C. Wolfe
Genre: Drama/ Music
Runtime: 94 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos, Jonny Coyne, Taylour Paige, Dusan Brown, Joshua Harto, Quinn VanAntwerp, Chloe Davis, Mayte Natalio, Johanna Elmina Moise, Onyxx Noel, LaWanda Hopkins, Sierra Stewart, Malaiyka Reid, Catherine Foster

Description: During a recording session, tensions rise between Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), her ambitious horn player (Chadwick Boseman) and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable ‘Mother of the Blues’.

Review: Levee Green things he’s quite a star. The record producer for Ma Rainey, the great frontwoman of his band, has picked his swinging version of her most famous song to record. He also wants to put a few of Green’s own songs on record. But when Ma herself shows up at the studio, she quickly puts an end to Levee’s arrogant illusions that “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” will be played in any way other than she wants. Certainly Levee’s splashy intro is going to be on the upswing, because that’s where he nephew gets to do some speaking. Only problem: he stutters like crazy.
These circumstances mainly set the stage for the subcutaneous tension between the old guard in 1927 blues music and the wave of swinging newcomers, as well as those between black musicians and the bosses who control the music world. At the center of it all is the fictional Levee, the very last film character that actor Chadwick Boseman played, who died in 2020. We see how he easily bends scenes his way, even though he is surrounded by numerous talented actors. Boseman charms the camera. A shot where you can only see him listening is already a feast for the eyes. He absolutely steals every scene and was the highlight of the film.
Ma Rainey is anything but fictional. However, this is a film adaptation of a play of the same name centered around the historic blues singer. She was one of the very first black performers of significance, an exception in the US of the 1920s. Levee is a creation of writer August Wilson, symbolizing the black artist on the margins, with all the talent and ambition in him. As a swinging trumpeter with the sound of the future, he is well ahead of his time. And what does that mean for a black man at this juncture.
Viola Davis doesn’t have to show a whole lot of acting range for her title role, but she does o deep in intensity. One look from Ma Rainey pulverizes. And under the thick layer of makeup, the actress is made almost unrecognizable.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is a movie not a lot of people would turn to, but with Chadwick Boseman’s death, a lot more eyes are on this film than id he had lived. This film is good because of his fantastic, flawless performance.

Rating: 4/ 5