The story unfolds on January 1st, 1927, primarily within a recording studio where blues icon Ma Rainey is preparing to record an album. The film opens with the studio being set up for her arrival, along with her team and a group of musicians led by Levee, a young man whose views on how Black artists should interact with white-owned studios clash significantly with Ma Rainey’s own perspective. These disagreements, amo…

The film version of 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' feels more like a filmed stage production than a traditional movie; it’s really designed to highlight the performers, not necessarily to offer a cinematic journey. However, the play itself is excellent—it’s among my favorite works by Wilson. It comes from a period in American theater that frequently explored the disappointments of pursuing the American Dream, that feelin…

This is fantastic! The performances in *Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom* are remarkable, especially those of Viola Davis as Ma and Chadwick Boseman as Levee. The characters have imperfections, but Davis and Boseman portray them both in a captivating way; Boseman has a particular moment that completely takes over the film. They clearly commit themselves fully to their roles. The supporting actors, with Colman Domingo as C…

I typically put together a list of films I want to see each year, knowing full well that many more will be announced and released throughout the twelve months. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was one such film. I wasn't familiar with it at all, but its awards buzz made it feel like something I needed to watch before Christmas. Going in, my only knowledge was that this would be Chadwick Boseman’s (Black Panther, Avengers: In…