Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020) (original) (raw)

When Ma Rainey, the "Queen of the Blues," makes a record in a studio in Chicago, 1927, tensions boil between her, her white agent and producer, and bandmates.

When Ma Rainey, the "Queen of the Blues," makes a record in a studio in Chicago, 1927, tensions boil between her, her white agent and producer, and bandmates. (less)

Director: George C. Wolfe
Writers: Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson
Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Taylour Paige, Jonny Coyne
Producers: Todd Black, Denzel Washington

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Awards

Review

Review by Brian Orndorf, December 23, 2020

8 / 10

�Ma Rainey�s Black Bottom� is an adaptation of a 1982 play created by acclaimed writer August Wilson (�Fences�), which went on to a successful Broadway run, bringing the history of the titular singer, the �mother of the blues,� and her struggles to the masses. For the material�s big screen debut, little has been changed, with director George C. Wolfe (�Nights in Rodanthe�) retaining the theatrical nature of the work, putting gifted actors in Wilson�s sweatbox environments and filming the heavily rehearsed results. The screenplay (by Ruben Santiago-Hudson) preserves as much fire-breathing as po ...read more...

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