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:

US: R. UK: 15.

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.

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Trailer:

The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk .

By bobwp

Dr Bob Mann lives in Hampshire in the UK. Now retired from his job as an IT professional, he is owner of One Mann's Movies and an enthusiastic reviewer of movies as "Bob the Movie Man". Bob is also a regular film reviewer on BBC Radio Solent.

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