In the midst of this extraordinarily challenging year, one of the biggest shocks we all received was the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman. At such a young age he passed away from colon cancer leaving the world a hole in its heart it could not have prepared for. His career left us with so much more to be desired, but luckily, we have one more performance of his left to look forward to. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom sets up to be his final performance and the question becomes, is it worth the watch? Absolutely it is. Even without Boseman’s unfortunate circumstance, this film is a magnificent experience.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is based on the August Wilson play about famous blues musician Ma Rainey who gets into a contentious recording session when one of her musicians’ Levee decides to cover one of her songs with a newer version with a quicker tempo designed to dance to. Obviously, Ma doesn’t appreciate someone trying to steal her spotlight and anger ensues which leads to a hot summer afternoon full of anger and discoveries. This movie is absolutely brilliant. Not just for its wonderful performances, but also for its introspection on the struggles of those in the late 1920s, especially for the African American population. Just because you are a famous singer does not save you from racism. It is even more difficult when you are not the lead, but just a trumpet player. This film shows that it is better to use your success to help those who are also less fortunate instead of moving on and focusing on yourself. This leads to jealousy and discontent which pushes people to their breaking points. Especially for those who have bigger goals and aspirations for their life.
Converting a play to film has always been a difficult process and one that doesn’t turn out well usually. It doesn’t matter how great the source material is, a film and play are completely different things and if not done right, the film version can feel as if you are just watching a play which defeats the purpose. Films like Fences for example completely bored me because it felt so static. Meanwhile, something like Glengarry Glen Ross energized me because it feels like more than its source material. With Ma Rainey, this felt like a film. It had all the advantages a play adaptation needs when going to film. Dynamic movements, full use of different settings, and raw performances of the actors involved. Had I seen this as a play, I do not believe I would’ve felt the same impact. To pull this off is not an easy feat and all those involved should be recognized for making this work.
Now with this being Chadwick Boseman’s final performance, you wonder if it will send him out on a high note. It just might be his greatest performance. He is incredible here as Levee, a trumpet player with a troubled past who just longs to succeed. Chadwick lays it all out there for this one. When you get to hear Levee describe what he had to experience as a child, you can fully see the consequences of that situation on Chadwick’s face. His monologue describing this is extraordinary and you get to see the other actors’ reactions and just how impacted they are. They are playing characters, but the emotions are real. Viola Davis cannot be overlooked here either. She as Ma is almost unrecognizable and Viola does what Viola does. She is one of the greatest actresses ever and in this film, she plays the difficult part of being someone in a position of success who puts down others who were once in her previous position. The rest of the cast should not be overlooked either, especially Colman Domingo who is a calming yet powerful force in every film he is in.
It is bittersweet to talk about how great this film is considering it is the end for its lead in Chadwick. Sad that it is his last film, but we should cherish that we get one last film with him, and it is a powerful one. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is a terrific sendoff that tells a captivating story full of raw emotion and heartbreak. Everyone involved should be getting ready for award season and it would be nice to see Chadwick Boseman honored on that Oscar’s stage for a much deserving performance.
The Verdict