What’s It About
Set in a Chicago recording studio in 1927, the two-act drama tells the story of a recording session with blues legend Ma Rainey, her band members, and the white producer and agent who made themselves wealthy through Rainey’s recordings. Adapted from August Wilson’s play.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
As a Black man, the last thing I want to see (or be reminded of) is America before 1970. For Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to be set in 1920’s Chicago, most of what you could have expected exist in this movie. The most significant difference, it’s the side of the African American experience they rarely show. This film showcases the hardships felt by Ma Rainey’s band, but it represents the real issues that unfortunately still plague Black people. As the movie plays out, certain truths about the band and Ma Rainey are discovered. Slow Drag, the bass player, was the apparent religious member as he had stories about the Devil and God. Cutler, the trumpeter, was the leading member and always faithful to Ma, and Toledo, the piano man, had the misfortune of stepping on Levee’s new shoes. And then there’s Chadwick Boseman as Levee. Besides Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis, Levee is the unapologetic star of this movie. He is what every young Black person is – someone that feels like all you need is talent and, therefore, you are owed something. Throughout the film, Levee is so complicated and yet the most relatable character. You hate him, you love him, you feel his pain, and as much as you want him to fail, you want him to succeed. On the opposite end, Ma Rainey was the experienced singer nearing the end of her career. She was smart enough to know how to navigate her life within the confines of a racist society without settling. Just like Levee, she was an understandably complex person. Having to deal with a White record company in the north, combined with her jealousy of other successful Black artists at the time, was her main real weakness. Basically, they all deal with life pressures as a person of color, and if you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss most messages since they are told or shown metaphorically. In my opinion, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom should be considered essential viewing for all students of the arts. As for the 2021 award season, it should win nearly every award it’s a part of, rightfully so.
OUR RATING – A FANTASTIC 9.5