Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Directed by George C. Wolfe (2020)

Halfway through this movie I commented that I loved how dramatic the acting was and how poised all the scenes looked - it was like a play. I like movies like this (check out Blindspotting) because characters say things and act in ways that are clearly not how people normally behave, but it works since the whole movie feels staged anyway. It's more obviously a piece of art than a more realistic movie. As it turns out, this film is based on a play of the same name by August Wilson, which is based on the real life mother of blues Ma Rainey. The film is set in 1920s Chicago, where singer Ma and her band have a recording session. Another thing I like about this movie is that most of the action takes place in two rooms at the recording studio. Such a simple set and few characters mean the acting and dialogue have to carry a heavy load, and boy they do. Chadwick Boseman's character rips off passionate monologues left and right, and Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis, oozes control and character throughout the film. This movie plays with a lot of themes: young arrogance, power dynamics, the exploitation of black artists (which has a long history and still continues today). Ma Rainey's Black Bottom addresses these themes harshly, and with a poignant end leaves you unsettled. (12/25/20)