Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Review (Film, 2020)

content warning: foul language, gun violence

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1982 play of the same name. It is a story inspired by real life blues singer Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues, and her band as they try to record a new album. Tensions rise as everything is off schedule. Further complicating things is the ambition of the youngest member Levee, who wants to leave the band and form his own group.

Director George C. Wolfe directs Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s adaption of Wilson’s stageplay. Ma Rainey’s… is a thrilling representation of an excellent theatrical work. The conflict is established in the opening performance scene and only escalates from there.

Ma Rainey is performing to a sold-out crowd. She takes a break to catch her breath and Levee steps to the front of the stage for an unplanned trumpet solo. The spotlight tracks to Levee and Ma is furious. She wails at the top of her range, demanding the “boy” in the back point the spotlight to her, where it belongs. The older band members exchange a knowing glance while Ma takes control of her band again.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is filled with smart moments like this. This is a film driven by clever dialogue and powerful reactions. You often see what the rest of the band is thinking while the action happens offscreen. There can only be one soloist at a time in a band like this, and everyone has varying levels of respect towards that in the group. The band doesn’t care to hear what Levee has to say anymore, and Levee is either distracted or defensive.

Meanwhile, Ma Rainey is taking her time to get to the session. The film adaptation gives context to what is happening in powerful scenes without dialogue. Ma makes a grand entrance in a crowded hotel, a man on one side and a woman on the other. She looks both ways, then links arms with her date: the woman. The crowd is shocked, and then she steps it up. She puts her arm around her nephew’s shoulders and they walk out as a trio. She takes her time, soaking in the attention of her audience as she stares them in the eyes before climbing into the car and driving away.

The common source of conflict for everyone in the story is the interference of the white music producers on Ma Rainey and her band. The blues aren’t seen as commercial in 1927. The producers have already decided that Levee’s arrangement of Ma’s signature song is the kind of dance music the people want. Ma is not one to let anyone control how she runs her business, and the older members of the band respect that. It’s Levee and the producers who want to flip the script and change Ma’s music.

As a critic, I’m overwhelmed in the best way possible. I can usually find one or two elements or a particularly resonant theme to hitch a review on. I can’t narrow it down with Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. August Wilson plays are an experience and Ma Rainey’s…soars on-screen.

Viola Davis as Ma and Chadwick Boseman as Levee are incredible. They have the flashiest roles and they carry the film. Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, and Michael Potts are excellent as the members of the band. Jeremy Shamos and Jonny Coyne are perfect as the slimy music execs and Taylour Paige and Dusan Brown do excellent work as Ma’s new proteges.

George C. Wolfe is in total control of every detail of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is no surprise if you’ve ever seen his work on Broadway. It’s not a surprise considering so much of the work he’s directed to critical acclaim: Spunk; Jelly’s Last Jam; Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk; The Wild Party; Caroline, or Change; and Shuffle Along. Most of his theatrical work is the story of black people in America told through the music they created. The Wild Party is the odd one out, but it’s also an explosive exploration of the human condition told through the Jazz Age. Wolfe has developed brilliant creative vision for how to tell musical stories with high dramatic stakes that feel as important as they are honest.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is event viewing. Every adult with access to the film should watch it. It is a masterpiece that will be studied for decades as cinematic and theatrical text.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is streaming on Netflix.

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