Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 

This film is an acting powerhouse presented by the electric Viola Davis in a performance that is one of the best of her career. Then you have Chadwick Boseman giving his final onscreen performance that ends up being his greatest onscreen performance he has ever given. This film is an  adaptation of the play by August Wilson who’s work was previously adapted to the big screen with Fences back in 2016. That film was very dialogue heavy and very much stayed in one location and that film relies on the actors to carry the film as its very much a performance heavy film which is exactly what this film is as well. The film takes place in this dusty and old recording studio on one day of recording a few tracks and what happens in this one single location while the recordings take place explode in such powerful performances that you can’t look away from. This film brings truly electric performances to the screen that is truly some of the best acting I have seen all year and sparks incredible dialogue that leaps off the page and brings great life to every single character. 

Firstly, The film takes a very interesting approach to the subject matter of race in America in the 1920’s now August Wilson grabs ahold of very strong topics of race and the music of the blues and the deep importance it had to African Americans all the way back in the 1920’s and still to this very day still has great importance. He talks about how in the 1920’s African Americans were not only living through incredibly harsh social environments but the music that they created the blues was being taken from them as well. He talks the importance that the Blues had and has on African Americans all over the world and his story on this film very much touches on the pulse of America in how it took things from Black Culture for its own benefit without giving them the proper credit where they should have. It is a deep and truly realistic message that is brought to the screen in raw honesty that will bring tears down your cheeks and raise the skin on your arms and lastly give you such chills. There hasn’t been such writing like August Wilsons work that touches upon raw and honest situations African Americans went through and the political environment that was around them. He brings an iron fist of truth to his writing that very few can do about African Americans the way August Wilson does.  

Secondly, The performances in this film is some of the best acting I have ever seen in my life! Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman deliver the best work they have ever done in this film. Viola Davis brings a toughness and wit to her that comes across as humorous at times but is told with serious truth as well. The moment she shows up she explodes in such charismatic energy and electricity that you cannot look away from. When she walks in a room she makes her presence known with the way she delivers her dialogue in such a sparkling explosive way that Viola does in such a genius way. She plays Ma Rainey with emotional toughness and sensitivity that results in what I think is her greatest onscreen performance. Chadwick Boseman brings a chilling, emotionally intense and truly beautiful performance that brought me to tears. This is not only his best performance of his career but is also one of the best performances I have ever seen. This is Chadwick Boseman’s final film and wow he pours his heart and soul into this performance and you can see through every word he says the sheer commitment he has to the character. It is a performance that will move you and truly amaze you. everyone else all give great performances there is not one weak performance in this film but its the power of Viola and Chadwick that steal the show. 

Lastly, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a beautiful film that captures the political environment of African Americans in the 1920’s with absolute truth while also delivering this fantastic story about the Blues and its sheer importance. Adding to that already great story structure is the story of Ma Rainey the great musical artist and the recording process of black bottom that happened in a single day. Brought to great life by a career best performance by Viola Davis. Then witnessing the sheer emotional beauty of Chadwick Boseman in his finest and final performance that will bring you to tears. Black Bottom is the best acted film of the year and one of the best acted films I have ever seen discussing such important topics with mesmerizing performances I recommend everyone go see this film. 

The story centres about the recording process of Ma Rainey’s record Black Bottom and the emotional strains on the band that went on that evening 

Rated R : Some Sexual Content Language Brief Violence

Viola Davis : Viola Davis gives what I think is the best work of her entire career in this film! Now I hold her work in Fences as a very close second as her work in that is outstanding.  Now her work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is truly something special as she brings an electric charismatic energy and emotional  depth to the character that is unlike anything she’s done before. Yes she has given charismatic energy and emotional layered characters in the past but here you can see the sheer passion running through her eyes and the passion through her line delivery. She crackles in every single scene bringing a dry humour to moments that work and don’t come across as jokey but works because there is some truth to her wit that works. Then when she dives into the more dramatic heavy scenes it shakes you to your core as she has a moment in this film that is very quiet and intimate as she discusses the meaning of the Blues to Black Culture and how it has such a deep place in her heart that she connects to whenever she speaks into that microphone. You can see the tears almost well up in her eyes and how emotional she gets talking about it and Viola opens her heart up in such a sincere way that is truly moving. Then when you see her discuss how the music industry will just throw her to the side of the road after they have what they want is shown through such emotional intensity that you feel every word she says she means with every ounce of her being and heart. She can be quiet and very emotional and open her heart up and then the next she can command her voice as the loudest in the room with such emotional rage and intensity you can see it through her eyes and soul. Viola shows so many layers of her range as an actress in this role it is incredible to witness. Overall Viola Davis delivers her the best work of her career in a powerhouse performance that will amaze you. 

Chadwick Boseman : Chadwick Boseman’s final performance is the best performance he ever gave. Chadwick Boseman delivers not only a great final performance but a performance that is one of the greatest I have ever seen. Boseman plays Levee a trumpet player who has big visions for his life and his music career. His visions sometimes get him in troubling arguments with his band and to a point where he gets psychical with them. Chadwick’s character Levee has been through a lot and he tells them his hurt past in a monologue that will send shivers down your spine and emotionally exhaust you. As Chadwick Boseman at this point in his life was at the worst of it in terms of his battle with Cancer and so he knew how bad it was with his health. He pours his blood sweat and tears into this performance and is unlike anything he has done. His work in films like 42, Marshall, Black Panther and Da 5 Bloods is amazing work that he gave us. The work he provides in this film is on another level of acting he has never channelled before. You see the spit from his mouth spew as he screams in passionate rage that brings tears to his eyes. Then he can switch it up and bring that Chadwick charm we love with a twinkle in his eye. Or he can bring the sheer happiness and beautiful smile to his face while being so optimistic about his future. At a part in the film you see Levee tell a story about his mother who was murdered and their is a close up angle on his face and you can see the shakiness in his voice rattle from the sadness in his heart and then he has his eyes filled up in water holding back the tears that would stream down his face in one blink. He didn’t deliver the dialogue he felt the dialogue from his heart and soul and presented it in some of the most raw emotional honesty I have ever witnessed an actor do. He feels every word he says showing every layer and going to every depth an actor can go for a character Chadwick brings a performance that is truly his  greatest work as he is charming, heartbreaking, breathtaking, chilling and genius. One of my first ever film reviews was on his film 42 one of his first films and seeing this as his final I will say this Chadwick you were a star that was gone to soon and this character in this film is your greatest work what a heartbreaking and brilliant final performance to bow out on. Chadwick this is a performance that will be remembered forever just like you and this truly is one of the greatest performances I have ever seen Chadwick is a true de force in a chilling final performance. 

George C. Wolfe : George C Wolfe Brought such a faithful adaptation to August Wilson’s beautiful words on the big screen. I have not seen any of his previous works but after seeing what he brought to this film I definitely will check out his other works. Here he really takes ahold of the single location of the recording explores it to such great depths and really uses it to his benefit. he also explores the depth of race which is one of the centrepieces of the story August Wilson wrote. He has two touching moments about the Black Culture in where Viola talks about the importance of the Blues. Then there is a moment where a character sings in emotional pain and it flashes to African Americans in the streets as he plays the keys on the piano it was chilling moments that George C Wolfe brings to the screen in such beauty. He also shows the absolute unfair conditions African Americans were living in to such a brutal truth and I respect that as he never says away from the darker moments. The camera also would move so smoothly in between the band mates as they spoke in the basement it felt like you were there and he brings those elements of race and culture into the conversation and tackles them head on. On top of getting career best performances from both Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis and great performances from the entire rest of the cast too. He really stayed faithful to the story and the message it carries with it George C. Wolfe brought great direction to a great story.