By Paul Hall
The 1927 Blues scene was centered around Bessie Smith, the Duke Ellington orchestra and the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey, all of whom dominated the landscape with their music. In the new film from director George C. Wolfe, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, we get to peek inside the day that Rainey came to Chicago to record her signature song, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Ma (Viola Davis) is not one to trust many people. She has a disdain for the White folks around her, and an even bigger dislike of her band’s principal trumpet player Levee’s (Chadwick Boseman) attempts to change the arrangement for the song. And Levee isn’t making friends within the band, either, with his new ideas, his wandering eye and a new-school mentality. But make no mistake, Levee is talented.
As this stroll through a solitary day progresses, the band, Levee, Ma and others are uniquely emboldened to tell their own stories. Stories that include sex, music and more, from a variety of individuals who are not afraid to take the lead in this soliloquy-laden drama.
Boseman is wonderful in this effort, and has multiple moments of passion-filled dialogue that leave viewers desiring more. But more will unfortunately not come from the talented actor, who passed away in August.
Davis exudes the sexuality, power and the control that you would expect from Ma. A consummate professional, she lets it all hang out and makes it clear that Ma will take a back seat to no one, whether they are White, Black, young or old. If Ma wants a Coke, Ma gets a Coke.
The Blues music of the ’20s is a character in and of itself, as the struggle between new ways and the old way is a familiar one, found within any genre of music that looks to advance and not lay stagnant.
This tight 94-minute film finds a way, and everyone from Wolfe to Davis lets Boseman work, and it is a beautiful thing. The passion underlying both Levee’s and Ma’s actions is something that hung with me for days. And the film’s last bit of extended monologue from Boseman will haunt me for a long time.
The Blues were something Ma Rainey was good at creating. And though the blues are something I felt after this film’s credits rolled, I also had a distinct feeling of joy and love for having the ability to share the moment with such a wonderful group.
Paul’s Grade: B
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Rated R
Stars: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman
Director: George C. Wolfe
