Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Excellent! 'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom' features great performances from Viola Davis (Ma) and Chadwick Boseman (Levee). Their characters aren't flawless, yet Davis and Boseman make them each a fascinating watch; the latter has one film-stealing scene. They both truly give their all. The other cast members, spearheaded by Colman Domingo (Cutler), are good as well. The plot is riveting and very well told, with near perfect pacing and an astutely chosen run time; a 2hr film, for example, would've dragged. The end scene is a noteworthy one, also. There is a lot to enjoy here, even for a story filled with sadness and injustice. Highly recommend.

As a film adaptation, 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' isn't so much a movie as it is a play with a few more options; a showcase for its actors rather than a cinematic experience. But the play it adapts is very good, one of my favourites of Wilson's. It's from an era of theatre in the United States that dealt heavily with the casualties of the American Dream, where you're sold a bill of goods but they'll never come through for you and you spend your whole life chasing a phantom. I think those messages are still relevant - if not more so now - than they were when they were originally written. - Jake Watt Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-ma-raineys-black-bottom-a-powerfully-acted-tale-stumbles-from-stage-to-screen

**Viola Davis as the Queen of the Blues** The events of the film take place on the 1st day in the year 1927, and one place is a recording studio for music albums. We start with the preparation of the studio for the blues legend Marini, accompanied by her close entourage, and a team of musicians led by the ambitious young man, Levee, who has a new and open perspective on the relationship of black artists to the recording studios run by whites, which is a conflicting perspective. Wholly with Ma Rainey's personal vision. This conflict with other conflicts govern the events of this difficult day. The movie that comes to mind most when you watch this movie is (Fences 2016). The two films are based on two plays by August Wilson. The similarities between the two films can be caught in the general atmosphere of the two films. You will find the theatrical atmosphere in addition to the embodiment of the ambition of the black community, which August Wilson was concerned with embodying in different periods of American history. Ma Rainey is a violent and cruel character who uses all the tools at her disposal to achieve her goals and clings to all her rights, starting from her money to a bottle of Coca-Cola, while Levee's personality is a little lighter, manipulative, and has a tendency to pride in himself, but he does not find any barrier to fraud to achieve his goals as well. The two characters have goals and have a history. It is a 100% pivotal movie, with the exception of some songs and some kinetic scenes that are characterized by a theatrical nature that I liked very much, and this is not favored by some, contrary to what I liked about the movie. The film was filmed to keep pace with a period of time in which it is related to fashion, cars, decoration, and the musical instruments used, and all of these things were implemented with the utmost perfection, and most of these complications were implemented in short scenes. The dialogues were wonderful and effective, and it is strange that it is the least associated with the theatrical atmosphere, and this was evidence of the genius of August Wilson. The film's handling of sub-themes was also incredibly impressive, reflecting the dynamism of filming studios and the scales and levers of power. Who is the decision-maker and who has the strongest personality in the studio to influence decision-making? The characters of the film are certainly limited, but they are certainly effective. Everyone, without exception, takes their turn under the spotlight, since we are talking about the stage. But the longest moments and the most prominent performance between the actors were certainly Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. Contemplating Chadwick Boseman's performance, he is certainly a hardworking actor and has done great things despite his young age.