Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
2020, drama, music
94 minutes
Tensions rise when the trailblazing Mother of the Blues and her band gather at a Chicago recording studio in 1927. Adapted from August Wilson's play.
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By other critics
9.0
2020-12-19
The beauty of the film is not only in its thoughtfulness or concept that provides food for thought. The costume and cinematography provide high contrast of an era with its black and white shades as well as the vivid colors that make it beautiful and scary at the same time. Read more
8.8
David McGinnis of Fellowship of the Screen
2020-12-23
The film is a true actor’s showcase and Boseman is on a glide path to win the first posthumous acting Oscar since Heath Ledger.
8.5
2020-12-26
Although it is difficult to escape the fact that this story was made for the stage, George C. Wolfe’s ensemble drama about gatekeeping, ownership, and exploitation is nevertheless engrossing and upsetting. Read more
8.0
2021-03-18
I’ve put off watching this movie, since the subject matter didn’t immediately grab me. But I’m glad I caught it, since I really enjoyed it. Read more
8.0
2020-12-16
The roles are superlative platforms for their genius. Just as we keep repeating, the music is secondary. Read more
8.0
2020-12-08
This is an elegant, artful salute to great art, and a sobering reminder of a shameful legacy marked by exploitation and appropriation. And it is thanks to a collection of great artists that Ma Rainey comes to the screen with all of its joy and pain intact. Read more
7.0
2021-05-01
Well, both are truly Oscar-worthy! Oh man, if only Viola won this year, she was incredible! I’m not overly fond of the film itself overall... Read more
7.0
2020-12-30
The characters reveal to be meaningful as they express ingrained thoughts and narrate disturbing stories, both personal and unconfirmed. Almost in counterpoint, the film swings unabashedly at the sound of jazz while capturing the atmosphere of that specific time. Read more
6.0
2020-11-22
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom falls very much into the category of "filmed play" rather than screen adaptation, too reliant on monologuing in its character development, too rigid with the source material to improvise on its theme. Still, when you have actors as powerful as Boseman and Davis on hand, that's not so bad. Read more
In other languages
8.0
2020-12-27
Interessante film voor wie houdt van blues en voor wie het lot van de zwarte medemens hem nauw aan het hart ligt. Read more
8.0
2020-12-19
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is filmvakmanschap - een feest voor liefhebbers van fantastisch acteerwerk, interessante dialogen, boeiende personages en spanning die je creëert door vast te zitten op één locatie. De blues is door deze film weer springlevend. Read more
6.0
2020-12-18
In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom overtreft de wijlen Chadwick Boseman’s prestatie uit Da 5 Bloods niet vanwege de te lange dialogen en het geaarzel in het knippen, terwijl Voila Davis nergens de lens naar zich toetrekt. Neen, verfilmingen van toneelstukken moet je heel goed onder knie hebben om er iets van te kunnen maken. Read more
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