Review: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)

Chadwick Boseman left this planet far too soon, far too suddenly, mere months ago. 

Chadwick Boseman’s FINAL big screen appearance is a powerful, nuanced performance worthy of attention and praise, and possible posthumous award nominations.

Based on the music and real life of Blues singer Gertrude ‘Ma Rainey’ Pridgett, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is an adaption of Pulitzer Prize-winning August Wilson’s 1982 stage play of the same name.

Oscar Winner Viola Davis takes on the role of the titular Ma Rainey; a hard-living, world-weary, business-savvy singer, still at the top of her game. 

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes place during a fictionalized recording session set in 1927 Chicago. The film focuses on the complex relationships between Ma, her band, and the men recording her next album.

Davis’ portrayal fully embodies Rainey’s full figure and full life.  Davis dons a costume clearly designed to add literal heft to her role and performance, showing Rainey as a force in the music business. She is not afraid to literally or figuratively throw around her power and prestige.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom FEELS like a faithful adaption of the original staged play.  While this reviewer has not seen a staged version of ‘Ma’, Director George C. Wolfe clearly took great care to preserve the look, pacing, and feel of a story originally told on a stage.  The three act format, extended dialogue scenes, limited shooting locations, and dramatic arcs; all convey a storytelling style best experienced on the boards rather than on the big screen. 

As characters tell stories to each other, rather than cutaway to show these scenes play out as one might expect in a film; the audience stays with the characters in the room.

We see them tell their stories; we see the pain on their faces.  This, however, does not take away from the cinematic experience.  The lighting, costumes, music and performances are all skillfully done.

Chadwick Boseman’s performance as Levee, the highly talented and ambitious, yet mercurial Cornet player, drives much of the film.  Levee is the youngest member of the group; but at 32, has dreams of his own.

Levee seems to live every aspect of his life dialed to 11, determined to experience all that life has to offer.  As one might expect, complications soon follow. 

Boseman’s energy and passion are on full display.  Levee’s ambition, hunger, talent, and urgency all jump off the screen. 

He seems to be a man living with a ticking clock; determined to fit everything into life, before the clock runs out.  Even his music is played faster than his bandmates can handle. 

Boseman plays Levee as if he seems to sense his end is near.  An eerily prescient acting decision, given Boseman’s own health problems he was facing in real life.

Boseman’s final role may very well garner award nominations and wins, precisely because it is his final role. Even if we had been fortunate enough not to lose his incredible talent at such a young age, this performance is fully worthy of any and all awards.  His energy bleeds into the performances of the other actors fortunate enough to share the screen with him.

While this film feels like it would be more at home on the stage rather than the screen, it is a must see for any Chadwick Boseman fans.  Whether you liked him in Black Panther, or saw his portrayal of James Brown, nothing quite matches his performance as Levee. 

Boseman’s final act may very well be his finest act.