Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

On Netflix.

Denzil Washington brings to the screen the second of August Wilson’s plays after 2016’s Fences. Directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman in his final role. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom focuses on a single recording session in a Chicago studio, where unfolds a story of influence, ambition and frustration between Rainey the studio, her band and the tensions between them.

One of the criticisms of Fences was how “stagey” it felt and while I never felt that with Fences, Ma Rainey’s stage roots are clear to see. Played out between the recording studio and rehearsal room in almost real time. It’s full of powerful “soliloquy” projected at the screen and movement is slow and deliberate and that is reflected in the entire piece.

This is not a look at Rainey’s life, but a snippet that uses Rainey to explore the life of black artists of the time. Rainey uses the session as a way of exercising a level of control and influence that is not afforded to her outside of this small sphere. Boseman’s Levee is an ambitious, trumpet player in Rainey’s band who wants to show his individuality and become an artist in his own right, but is frustrated by his own lack of influence and control.

Unfortunately this didn’t work for me as a movie as I couldn’t escape that feeling of watching a play.

As you’d expect from Davis we get a powerful and admirable performance  and Boseman reminds you of the fantastic talent that has been lost as he balances the arrogance and vulnerability his character needed. The leads are well supported with strong cast around them.

But ultimately this was an adaptation that didn’t work for me and while the performances are worth watching it never escapes that “staginess” and that is a pity.