MA RAINEY"S BLACK BOTTOM 2020
by
GEORGE C.WOLFE
Viola Davis is transformed as Ma Rainey, the mother of blues. As she herself confesses, blues are in nature, but she does not mind getting the credit. He costumes, performance and general demeanor are sights to behold.
But the film is not about her. She has struggled and fought and come out on top. But she is passe, the past. The future is Lenee, played amazingly by Chadwick Boseman, in the final role of his career.
Lenee had seen his mother hang. Lenee feels he knows a lot about music, and is at the cusp of forming his own band. He writes songs that sting, but do not pay much.This is Chicago, summer of 1927. Lenee feels there is no escape. No door he manages to kick open leads anywhere. His angst, his aspirational anxiety and his uneasiness lead to catastrophic events. The studio recording turns out to be tense and dramatic.
Chadwick deserves an OScar for his role. He is winning the trophy for sure. Viola Davis is nominated but might lose out to McDormand or Carey Mulligan. Best Picture is also a long shot. It is also nominated for Costume Design and Make-up and should win both. A great effort, and an essential watch, Ma Rainey has a lot of life in it than mere single watch.
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