The film adapts August Wilson’s play, and its origins are obvious. The way the story unfolds and how it’s presented feels entirely like a theatrical production, which didn't quite succeed for me when viewed in a movie theater setting. At its core, the narrative revolves around a piano. "Boy Willie" (John David Washington) believes selling it could improve their circumstances, while his sister "Berniece" (Danielle Dea…

There's something worthwhile to be found in *The Piano Lesson*, even though it has its ups and downs. My engagement fluctuated noticeably as the story unfolded, suggesting there might have been opportunities to hold my attention more steadily—though I remained invested for the most part. John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson both deliver strong performances, but Danielle Deadwyler truly impressed me; she gav…

Turning a play by a talented writer into a movie is frequently difficult to do well. When an adaptation misses the mark, it doesn't just disappoint; it can unfairly reinforce the idea that movies are somehow less valuable than things like literature or theater. This new film based on the writings of August Wilson isn’t successful in the same way earlier adaptations have been—for example, “Fences” (2016) was a clear t…