Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

Tensions are high when Ma Rainey and her band begin to record in Chicago.

Related Titles: Judy, Whitney, Bohemian Rhapsody

 

Rating: 8.5/10

By Leanne

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom packs a powerful punch into it's relatively short (for an awards film anyway!) runtime. While the story itself is based on the real life persona Ma Rainey, a lot of the characters were fictionalised but based on an accumulation of real life experiences and stories. There is a lot to unpack in this film and there are many moments that cut deep. 

The film follows a day of recording with Ma Rainey and her band. From the opening moments of the film Ma's following and popularity as 'Mother of the Blues' is introduced with people crowding into a tent to get a chance to see her perform. It's also made very clear from the offset that she doesn't like to share the spotlight and she is the star of the show. Tensions are . clear between her and the band's very confident trumpeter Levee. 

There is a hell of a lot of commentary here on black experiences and it's very intense as the characters share their experiences and discuss their lives. The band comprises of three older gents who, it seems, worked with Ma for a long time and were accustomed to her tough ways and high expectations and a younger Levee whose head is filled with dreams of having his own band. The camaraderie between the bandmates is great; while rehearsing and waiting for Ma they bounce off each and mock each other relentlessly. This is the first time we see a change in Levee's character. Throughout the film, Levee switches from mischievous to despairing. His cheeky grin is wiped clean off his face when he tells the story of his childhood and the mistreatment him and his family suffered at the hands of white men. This is a constant theme throughout the film and leads to his eventual breakdown. This theme carries throughout the film with Ma discussing her passion for music and how her manager doesn't really care for her as a person and only wants her voice. Ma's sexuality is also touched upon which I think is fantastic. It's not labelled or made a big deal of but is touched upon in a subtle way. This inclusion is, in my opinion, key because they could easily have left it out of the film but instead decided to include it but not make a meal out of it. 

Both, Viola Davis (Ma Rainey) and Chadwick Boseman (Levee) are fantastic. Viola Davis is practically unrecognisable as Ma but commands attention both on screen and to the audience. I love the way her character never backed down on what she wanted and Davis brings passion to the character. But, I must say that the late Chadwick Boseman's performance is incredible. The way his character flits between being carefree and cheeky to being trapped in a pit of despair is fantastic. Moreover, his monologues are amazing. His performance throughout the film just gets better and eventually peaks in the final moments of the film where, after a moment of rage, he shows the regret of his actions. His steals the screen every moment he appears with his cheeky grin and dancing feet or passion and rage at the mistreatment he has faced. 

While this film has been adapted from a play and is limited practically to the recording studio, it doesn't feel as stagnant as some play adaptations. I think the pace of the film and the music help to keep the film moving. While the music isn't a key part of the film, the performances are fantastic and Maxayn Lewis (the singing voice of Ma) is brilliant. The closing scene is tragic and I won't go into it too much but the final scene of Levee's music being recorded basically sums up everything that Ma and the band preached throughout the whole film. 

Not a film that I've heard a lot of people talking about but definitely a film I would encourage people to check out. If for none of the other fantastic draws, it's worth watching Boseman's final fantastic performance. 

Rating: 7.5/10

By Rebecca

Set over one day, in Chicago, 1927. Ma Rainey and her band are set to record some blues music. The day pans out to be very eventful and emotional as we get to know Ma Rainey better as well as the individuals that make up her band. It starts off with one of Ma Rainey's popular performances, where hundreds of people line up to hear her breathtaking voice, this is back in Georgia (the deep south). As the factory industry grows, the north of the US urges people to the northern cities, and this is why many black people flocked. The band walk through the streets of Chicago and you see the white people look at them funny, and this sets the tone straight away. Yes this film is about Ma Rainey and the recording of her music, but it goes way more deeper than that. It obviously has a racism, discrimination tone running right through it. The hurt, the anger and the unjust that black people encounter every day is on full display, and no character portrays it more than Levee, the trumpeter. 

While the storyline, is gripping, what shines the most is the performances from Viola Davis (Ma Rainey) and Chadwick Boseman (Levee Green). While the two characters rarely interact together, they both individually set the screen alight. While this film is based on Ma Rainey, you see most of the screen time and spotlight move over to Boseman's character. Levee's character was infuriating and lovable at the same time. He was keen to make a music career for himself, and wasn't scared to tell his bandmates of his plan to break out for Ma Rainey's band. There were two, almost monologues by Chadwick Boseman in this movie. It really hits hard when you realise that it was his last piece of art before he sadly passed away, and you could tell that he gave everything that he had. The first monologue was a horrific story about one of Levee's experiences with the 'white man'. I won't give away what is said, but it will leave a lasting effect on you, I'm sure. Here we see him, filled with sadness, and anger, but also a little bit of pride (you'll see why). The second monologue, is even more intense and things are definitely turned up a notch, and Levee is riled up to the max. All I can say is that Chadwick Boseman stole the show and he is a real true loss to the arts. 

Ma Rainey, was respected, and her voice undeniable. Viola Davis, is an extraordinary actor, and can adapt in many beautiful ways and playing Ma Rainey was no exception. Ma Rainey as an individual was super interesting. They touched upon her sexuality - I'll assume that she was bisexual - it was part of the storyline, but her being queer was not the focus at all - which is enjoyed. At first, I got a bit frustrated with the way she was behaving, not focused on the recording of her song. Then in a conversation with one of her band, she poignantly explained that once she's given away herself, as in, her art and voice, then the white men (who were recording the song) wouldn't need her anymore. The way she was trying to hold onto her power for every last second, made you realise as the audience, being black and a woman in America is the 1920s made you the lowest in society. 

With a run time of just over 1hr 30 mins, I would highly recommend giving this a watch. I wouldn't be surprised if Chadwick Boseman was to be shown respect by winning some awards as supporting actor. I appreciated the story, also the music was a plus, and the drama was all there.