It seems cliché to say this after his passing, but Chadwick Boseman (Levee) is one of the best talents of this generation. He conveys humor, drama, and nearly every other form of emotion with what appears to be great ease. His performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is no exception to this, as Boseman, surrounded by other talented individuals, outshines each and every one of them. Every moment touches the audience; even when the moment doesn’t apply to them, Boseman has a way of having his words reach them and make somewhat of an impact. While it should have little bearing on whether or not his performance is acceptable, the knowledge that Boseman was struggling with cancer throughout the production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom speaks to his character, tenacity, and unwillingness to yield to anything but passion; and acting was certainly his passion. He knew it as a way to express the most difficult messages, evoke emotion and make a difference in the world, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is used for these purposes.
Levee is a relatively unknown musician who, at thirty-two years old, has determined that his future is not in making music for the titular Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), but rather creating and selling music of his own. However, Chicago in the 1920’s is fickle and will present Levee, Ma, her band, and the production company with struggles regarding race, money, and pride. As the entities preparing to produce and distribute Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (the song) butt heads and struggle over power, the reality of the world in which they live shows its ugly head and proves to be debilitating in a number of ways. Will they have the strength to power through the atrocities of the early twentieth century, or will reality eat them alive?
Boseman, along with every other cast member makes it instantly apparent what the primary issue at hand is in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, race. While the issue transcends the entirety of the film, there is something that ultimately becomes more prominent throughout the film, the idea that anyone and everyone is willing to screw over just about anyone in proximity to get what they want. It’s clear that each and every character has an ulterior motive that takes precedence over everything, even the lives of others. This message translates to the real world and allows viewers to appreciate each character’s drive, as well as the sacrifices they are willing to make on their journey toward their dreams.
This message also poses a threat to the real-life Ma Rainey and the film as a whole. This character is not one that I am familiar with, and I would venture to guess that the majority of my generation have little to no idea who Ma Rainey actually was. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom depicts the character as aggressive, abrasive, and downright arrogant. It’s clear in the opening moments that Ma is headstrong, but even moreso, she is incredibly self-centered. While Boseman’s Levee is the driving force behind the film, Davis’ role is the reason for the film, and seeing her as so overbearing and unrelatable, viewers struggle to accept much of what she says. Furthermore, regardless of how the real-life Ma Rainey was, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom depicts her as somewhat of a menace, making it difficult for viewers to appreciate her work in the real world.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom depicts a story about dreamers; people who are unwilling to accept things as they are and fight the veritable power. Each of the cast members does a wonderfully accurate job of playing their niche character throughout the film, bringing to life the realities of issues depicted in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The main component of the film, however, is the music, and while most everything else has more relevance, director George C. Wolfe captures the essence of Rainey’s music and brings nearly one hundred year old music to life better than ever before. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom contains some issues with the depiction of the main characters, however, its messages are well received. Boseman, God rest his soul, is done justice throughout the film; and, while he is gone too soon, this film is a fitting end to his illustrious career.
Directed by George C. Wolfe.
Written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson & August Wilson.
Starring Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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