Review of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) by Jluis_001 — 22 Dec 2020

A part of this film disappointed me, more than anything because the way in which it constructs its tale forces the situations in order that each scene reflects a social commentary, consequently there's very little that can be said to be a true story, it's more like an anecdote.

Ma Rainey was a daring figure. The so-called Mother of Blues, was one of the first singers of the genre to be recorded, but in the film there is very little of her, if we speak seriously.

But certainly the marketing knows its strengths, and brings to the spotlight the mainstays of this story: Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman.

For Viola Davis it's another showcase to continue demonstrating her talent as an actress, while for Chadwick Boseman it becomes a tribute to his career, considering that he delivers one of his best performances.

I can safely assure that both will get nominations for their roles in the upcoming awards season.

Will they win some? Of that I'm not sure at all. Almost the entire film takes place in a recording studio, so there's barely changes of tone or pace in the narrative, so it's easy to say that this film won't be for all kind of audiences, but still is an excellent performance vehicle for its two lead actors, which in the end, is the best reason to watch this film.