Back
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Drama · Music

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

It would be an empty world without the blues.

6.6(1,269) 11/25/2020 1h 33m
DramaMusic

Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.

Play Trailer

Trailer

Advertisement · movie-mid-615667

Top Cast

Viola Davis

Viola Davis

Ma Rainey

Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman

Levee

Colman Domingo

Colman Domingo

Cutler

Glynn Turman

Glynn Turman

Toledo

Michael Potts

Michael Potts

Slow Drag

Jeremy Shamos

Jeremy Shamos

Irvin

Jonny Coyne

Jonny Coyne

Sturdyvant

Taylour Paige

Taylour Paige

Dussie Mae

Directed by

George C. Wolfe

Production

Reviews

Manuel São Bento

8/10

12/15/2020

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com Usually, at the end of each year, I prepare my watchlist for the next twelve months. Obviously, no matter how many movies I add to the list, I know dozens of more films will be announced and released throughout the year. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is one of them. I didn’t know a thing about this flick, but it received the always interesting awards buzz, which turned it into a mandatory viewing before Christmas comes around. I went in knowing only one thing: this is Chadwick Boseman’s (Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War) last appearance after he passed away a few months ago. I really didn’t know what to expect from this Netflix’s Oscar-bait, but I was afraid that Boseman’s nomination chance

r96sk

9/10

3/1/2021

Excellent! <em>'Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom'</em> 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.

SWITCH.

6/10

3/18/2021

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

Andre Wilfred Sanders

8/10

4/4/2023

**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 g

Where to Watch

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch via TMDB

Community Reviews

Be the first to rate this title.

Loading…