In 2020, Netflix released a musical drama based on August Wilson’s play, "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom." It takes place in the 1920s during a tense recording session with Ma Rainey and her band. Directed by George C. Wolfe, the film features Viola Davis, the late Chadwick Boseman, and Colman Domingo.
"Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" starts with a musical performance by Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), and it then cuts to a recording session in 1927 in which Ma and her bandmates Cutler (Colman Domingo), Levee (Chadwick Boseman), Toledo (Glynn Turman), and Slow Drag (Michael Potts) go through several internal struggles. The characters’ interactions show their true beliefs on life.
"Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" is only 1 hour and 34 minutes, but the amount of character development packed into that time is amazing. The acting within this movie is fantastic; Davis and Boseman were both nominated for an Oscar for their incredible performances. Levee’s character is by far the most interesting to me; he’s a musician who wants to become a big star, but he is held back by his fears and past traumas and the reality that the world does not favor Black Americans. Ma is also a great character, and Davis does an incredible job playing this fearless and passionate leader of the band.
The movie also has great music. The blues and jazz music that accompanies the entire movie fits perfectly (the movie is, after all, based on a blues band). The set design and atmosphere of the movie is also good; the very limited shots of the streets outside the recording studio really show off the 1920s industrial city and play into the theme of feeling out of place.
I think this movie is really good and definitely worth watching. While the movie does have strong language, it feels well-placed within the dialogue. The incredible performances heighten the interactions between the characters. Overall, I found Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom well worth the time, and it is probably my favorite of the movies I have reviewed so far.