401. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom; movie review

 

 

MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM

Cert 15

93 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language, references to racism

So, that's the best actor award sewn up and maybe the best actress award too.

Chadwick Boseman showed the world what it will be missing with an electrifying performance in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

To honour him with a posthumous Oscar would not be a sop to the dead or people of colour. It would be right because he is simply outstanding.

That said, he is not alone. Viola Davis is sensational in the title role and the film isn't half bad too.

This is an adaptation of the Broadway play about real-life blues singer Ma Rainey, played with deep curmudgeon by Davis.

It is set on one day in Chicago in 1927 when Rainey is hired to make a record with a black backing band at a studio run by a white producer.

The parallels between events of nearly 100 years ago and today are stark and resentment of Rainey and her trumpet player (Boseman) run deep.

Much of the action takes place in the band's cellar rehearsal room where three older players (Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and Michael Potts) verbally joust with Boseman's highly confident character, Levee Green.

Initially, his bravado surrounds his belief that he can compose and play better than the three older and more established men.

But, gradually, his motivations are revealed with his anger over the past unquelled.

Upstairs is Ma Rainey's territory. She is a picture of sweat and scowls with heavy make-up, silver teeth and overflowing bosom.

And she knows that her fawning white manager (Jeremy Shamos) and ruthless studio owner (Johnny Coyne) only care about the money her voice can make them.

Consequently, she makes them work for every cent.

As Rainey, Davis perspires bile out of every pore - reserving her only love for the blues which are sung with great gusto (although not by Davis who lipsyncs to veteran vocalist Maxayn Lewis).

George C. Wolfe's film is bursting with indignation and great tunes.

Its parallels to today are clear - it is remarkable how little things have changed for people of colour in a hundred years.

But one place they may find glory is at the Academy Awards. Sadly, the brilliant Boseman will not be there to receive his plaudits, having died from cancer earlier this year.

He would doubtlessly have gone on to scale even greater heights.

Reasons to watch: Great dialogue and outstanding performances

Reasons to avoid: Not big on action

Laughs: Two

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? Ma Rainey gave one of her first public performances in 1900 when she sang and danced with a troupe called the Bunch of Blackberries at the Springer Opera House. It was just one of many historic concerts held at the opulent venue which had previously hosted bandleader John Philip Sousa, writer Oscar Wilde, and Wild West shooter “Buffalo Bill” Cody

The final word. Viola Davis: "I broke down when I heard he passed. Lord knows we all would’ve wanted him to live another 50 years. We all want longevity. But I can’t see his life tragically at all." She continued, "Because I felt like he was always living in the moment, squeezing out every bit of life. What it makes me think is, it’s not the quantity, it’s the quality." Harper's Bazaar

Share this post