I learned about August Wilson the playwright and mind behind Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom in the 1980's and early 90’s. I am the most devout fan of the tv show ROC you will ever meet. So before the internet was even a thing I researched where else I could see cast members Rocky Carrol, Ella Joyce and Charles Dutton.
The one thing they all had in common besides very little screen time is that they were each stage vets and had played major roles in the Broadway productions of August Wilson. Since the internet was not a thing I bought the script versions of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. As I read the plays I cast in my mind my favorite actors including Joyce, Carrol and Dutton in various roles.
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Over the years I would see these plays and others in a live theater setting which is always more intimate than any film can be. I was hoping ...praying that Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix would not be a whole let down.
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I can say that producer Denzel Washington, and lead actress Viola Davis got this one right from start to finish. They cast the film solidly...so solid that there is no bad performance or wasted scene. My only critique which is not is that I missed seeing Stephen McKinley Henderson who has appeared in every august Wilson play (or film ) I have seen to this point.
Here’s the short stack review: I give Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom on Netflix 5 out of 5 Stars.
It’s does not romanticize the era it presents. Nor does it degrade the cast into being party to bigotry porn. What is presented is a well acted dramatization of a recording session on a hot afternoon; with a star that knows exactly what she’s worth and where the lines are between respect and tolerance. This was truly an ensemble piece and I don’t feel any one carried the whole film although Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis were pretty damn amazing.
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So now here are the 5 Reasons Why We Need “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
1. WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WE NEEDED THIS
If I told you Ma Rainey is the story of a popular blues band making a record? That would be like saying Malcolm X was a speaker.
This film without being preachy. Discusses how the record industry works and always works toward the advantage of the record company. In character as Ma Rainey ...Viola Davis explains that she is just the record company’s most valuable asset/ whore and neither the company owner nor her own agent care about her anymore than they do a dog in the alley. I wanted to applaud when explained that she makes more money for the record company than all the other artists they have combined so … “They gone treat me how I want to be treated. Even if it hurts them.”
Even today I ask myself why does it pain police, politicians and many white people to just treat people of color with the respect they have earned?
It says all this within the context of a compelling story.
2. AUGUST WILSON’S PLAYS MUST BE KEPT ALIVE
August Wilson’s plays document the lives of hard working people of color from Pittsburg through several decades. His work reminds me of several tv series set in Chicago or New York.
Although with his plays we get to know the time period and the neighborhood’s through the characters and not the other way around.
August Wilson left us in 2005. His words have stayed behind to continue to inspire.
3. WE NEEDED TO GIVE CHADWICK BOSEMAN A SEND OFF IN A BLACK PROPERTY
To watch Chadwick Boseman in this film is hard. At times he looked smaller than normal to me.
At no time did I ever feel he was “phoning it in” or on some “I’m the Black Panther” stuff. He commanded his role with as much passion and sincerity as I have ever seen. This performance reminded me of Sidney Portier. His role was important as well. He shows the audience what happens when you confuse what side of the food chain you are on. Wanting to win, deserving to win have absolutely nothing to do with actually winning.
4. THIS IS THE BEST VERSION OF AN AUGUST WILSON PLAY THAT’S COME TO TV OR FILM
Yes. One of the best theater adaptations of a drama I have seen in many years.
5.THIS CAST THOUGH
This cast is filled with solid talent that made this piece shine. Including a few actors that have given Broadway and the culture so much.
Colman Domingo as Cutler- He’s done his thing on and off broadway as an actor and playwright. He is so linked to The Walking Dead franchise...the teenager in me wants to write a scene where he’s setting up the band room and a zombie crashes through the wall. He was delightful in this film.
Michael Potts as Slow Drag- I believed he was a bass player just trying to get through the gig.
This is the second role I have seen him engulf. The first would be as Brother Mouzone on The Wire.
Glynn Turman as Toledo- Mr. Turman has been setting the stage/tv and film worlds on fire since he played the original Travis (as a small child) on Broadway in Larraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun. So his appearance in Ma Rainey is another great performance coming right after his amazing performance on the FX series Fargo. Hopefully, we will see Mr. Turman on stage or our tv or in Netflix or HBO in something very soon.
1. WE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WE NEEDED THIS
If I told you Ma Rainey is the story of a popular blues band making a record? That would be like saying Malcolm X was a speaker.
This film without being preachy. Discusses how the record industry works and always works toward the advantage of the record company. In character as Ma Rainey ...Viola Davis explains that she is just the record company’s most valuable asset/ whore and neither the company owner nor her own agent care about her anymore than they do a dog in the alley. I wanted to applaud when explained that she makes more money for the record company than all the other artists they have combined so … “They gone treat me how I want to be treated. Even if it hurts them.”
Even today I ask myself why does it pain police, politicians and many white people to just treat people of color with the respect they have earned?
It says all this within the context of a compelling story.
2. AUGUST WILSON’S PLAYS MUST BE KEPT ALIVE
August Wilson’s plays document the lives of hard working people of color from Pittsburg through several decades. His work reminds me of several tv series set in Chicago or New York.
Although with his plays we get to know the time period and the neighborhood’s through the characters and not the other way around.
August Wilson left us in 2005. His words have stayed behind to continue to inspire.
3. WE NEEDED TO GIVE CHADWICK BOSEMAN A SEND OFF IN A BLACK PROPERTY
To watch Chadwick Boseman in this film is hard. At times he looked smaller than normal to me.
At no time did I ever feel he was “phoning it in” or on some “I’m the Black Panther” stuff. He commanded his role with as much passion and sincerity as I have ever seen. This performance reminded me of Sidney Portier. His role was important as well. He shows the audience what happens when you confuse what side of the food chain you are on. Wanting to win, deserving to win have absolutely nothing to do with actually winning.
4. THIS IS THE BEST VERSION OF AN AUGUST WILSON PLAY THAT’S COME TO TV OR FILM
Yes. One of the best theater adaptations of a drama I have seen in many years.
5.THIS CAST THOUGH
This cast is filled with solid talent that made this piece shine. Including a few actors that have given Broadway and the culture so much.
Colman Domingo as Cutler- He’s done his thing on and off broadway as an actor and playwright. He is so linked to The Walking Dead franchise...the teenager in me wants to write a scene where he’s setting up the band room and a zombie crashes through the wall. He was delightful in this film.
Michael Potts as Slow Drag- I believed he was a bass player just trying to get through the gig.
This is the second role I have seen him engulf. The first would be as Brother Mouzone on The Wire.
Glynn Turman as Toledo- Mr. Turman has been setting the stage/tv and film worlds on fire since he played the original Travis (as a small child) on Broadway in Larraine Hansberry’s A Raisin In The Sun. So his appearance in Ma Rainey is another great performance coming right after his amazing performance on the FX series Fargo. Hopefully, we will see Mr. Turman on stage or our tv or in Netflix or HBO in something very soon.
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