Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
In 1927, Ma Rainey is a no nonsense blues singer, who has been hired to record a series of songs at a recording studio in Chicago .
Arriving some time before her are her band members including her longtime companions Cutler, Toledo and Slow Drag. The newest member of the group, Levee has grand plans for his future, having even written his own version of Ma Rainey’s popular song ‘Black Bottom’.
His fellow band members think his ambitious attitude are not fit for their tight nit crew, and fight with him to record Ma’s version of the song. But which will Ma choose?
Direction
Directed by George C Wolfe, who I have not come across before. It sells the era of mid 1920’s America with hair/makeup and costumes. Deservedly so, it won Oscars for both these categories.
I loved the colour palette used with strong use of yellows that really sell that ‘old time’ look.
It is clear that this is another film that needed the knowledge and history of the race and culture to direct such a film.
Cast/Characters
Viola B Davis plays the titular role of Ma Rainey.
The late Chadwick Boseman shines in what would be one of his last performances as Levee.
Both Davis and Boseman were nominated for Oscars for their roles, with neither wining.
Other cast members include Colman Domingo as Toledo, Glynn Turman as Toledo, Michael Potts as Slow Drag, Taylour Paige as Dussie Mae (Ma’s female companion), Dusan Brown as Sylvester (Ma’s stuttering nephew – who she demands intro the new record/album), and Jeremy Shamos and Jonny Coyne as Irvine and Sturdyvant – the owners of the record company that Ma is visiting.
Special mention should go to Maxayn Lewis who provides the singing voice for Ma Rainey.
Breakdown
I think this review will be in similar vein to yesterdays post on Sinners. Both films specifically deal with culture and race that I have no understanding of; those being the black community, the American community, and music of the blues etc.
This too is a love story to the Blues, but here this film holds it to a higher regard, with it being one of the central points of the film.
Set a decade before Sinners, this too has music as a central theme. Ma Rainey (being a real life person) is the architect of her ‘band’. She is brash, antagonistic and unapologetic.
I did find this to be too much at times, as there seems to be no reprieve from her callous attitude.
I also found this to be yet another role where Davis is typecast in the ‘strong, assertive woman’. But there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and I feel she ventures into the arrogance within the roles too much.
She is virtually unrecognizable in this role too under heavy (Oscar winning) makeup. I wonder if the real Ma Rainey was this unlikable?
One of the true standouts of the film is the late Chadwick Boseman, who plays Levee. He was battling stage 4 cancer as he played the character, but that doesn’t stop him giving a mesmerizing performance. His trumpet playing is real, and he sells the guy with nothing to lose, everything to gain. He had so much talent, and it is just devastating he is gone.
That being said, I didn’t care for the ending of the film, and what happens to Levee/what he does. The reactions to those around him made no sense either!
I wanted so much more for him, and even after his songs are rejected, he finally opens the door (to a dead end) and his new shoes get “ruined” – I found what he does to be a character assassination, especially after his heart wrenching story he tells the others. This is especially jarring how sensitive the topic was, and how well it was written into the film from the comedic moments beforehand.
Overall
Like yesterday’s Sinners, this is just another film that I could not get my heart into, and I truly believe that this is because of me. I don’t have the ideology to understand what the characters feel, so I was unable to empathise with them.
The performances, as well as the musical talent behind the team is brilliant.
I do recommend this, but it will help if you have an understanding of the issues at play (race relations etc)
3.5/5
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