One Mann’s Movies review of Man Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020).
Bob the Movie Man’s Rating:
Plot Summary:
In “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” it’s a hot summer day in 1927 Chicago. Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) is a soul singer from the deep South in the city to make a recording for Paramount Records. Rainey is a difficult customer for agent Irwin (Jeremy Shamos) and producer Sturdyvant (Jonny Coyne). Matters are made more difficult by friction between Rainey and horn-player Levee (Chadwick Boseman): Rainey wants to play her traditional set but feels threatened by the new progressive ideas of the ambitious and headstrong Levee. Sex, religion and racial injustice create a pressure-cooker that is set to blow.
The spectacular opening ‘tent’ scene. (Source: Netflix).
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos, Jonny Coyne, Taylour Paige.
Directed by: George C Wolfe
Written by: Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Based on the play by August Wilson).
A tragic loss to the industry. Chadwick Boseman as the ambitious but reckless Levee. (Source: Netflix).
Review:
Positives:
- I really wanted to put down all of the ‘Oscar buzz’ about the late Chadwick Boseman to a mawkish sentimentality about the actor’s tragic passing (which sounds disrespectful, but is not intended to). But having seen the performance as Levee, I take it all back. He’s stunning in the role and thoroughly deserves not only the Oscar nomination, but potentially also the win. A monologue about a traumatic childhood experience is Oscar-clip gold. What a way to ‘go out on a high’.
- Viola Davis has a miraculous transformation as the historical singer in the twilight of her career. When you see her doing interviews (there is a very good 30 minute “Making of” documentary on Netflix), it’s almost impossible to believe that she is the same actress.
- There are some great supporting performances as well: Glynn Turman as Toledo is great; and Taylour Paige is memorably sexy as the love interest (surprisingly) of two of the leads.
- Both the production design and the costume/hair design are exquisite: no more so than in the gorgeous opening scene of the performance in the tent. Again, very deserving of their Oscar nominations.
- There are some great directorial flourishes by Wolfe. One of my favourite scenes has Boseman finally breaking down a mystery door to find…. well, no spoilers, but it is a metaphor for Levee’s own struggles against life.
Getting it on. Levee (Chadwick Boseman) gets lippy with Dussie Mae (Taylour Paige). (Source: Netflix)
Negatives:
- Just as in another August Wilson adaptation, “Fences” (and indeed in the recent “One Night in Miami”), the production feels like a filmed stage play. The forward motion of the movie keeps stopping for monologues by some of the characters (albeit brilliant ones in many cases).
Summary:
I’ve put off watching this movie, since the subject matter didn’t immediately grab me. But I’m glad I caught it, since I really enjoyed it. All in all, it feels a little surprising in retrospect that “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” didn’t make the Oscar “Best Picture” list.
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk .
