Directed by:
George C. WolfeCinematography:
Tobias A. SchliesslerComposer:
Branford MarsalisCast:
Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Taylour Paige, Jonny Coyne, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos, Joshua Harto, Dusan Brown (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. (Netflix)
Videos (1)
Reviews (2)
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is less about the music and more about the power struggles within the band. It’s not a film full of joyful performances, but the tension and raw emotion work. Viola Davis is phenomenal, and Chadwick Boseman delivers a powerful final performance. The film nails the gritty vibe of 1927, reminding me a bit of the atmosphere in video games like Mafia, which is a plus.
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Something about Ma Rainey's Black Bottom didn't sit right with me during the screening – it felt "unbalanced". The performances of Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman, as well as other members of the band, are undoubtedly noteworthy, but narratively the film struck me as a kind of first-person account of an (un)ordinary day in the life of African-American artists in 1927, which is certainly due to the fact that it is an adaptation of a stage play. The film is full of dialogue and (unsurprisingly) music, and has two or three strong moments, but I still had quite a problem sympathising and empathising with the characters. I really liked the art styling and costumes, I would only have a complaint about Viola Davis' (chubby) costume, which was visible in places.
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