Ma Rainey's Black Bottom — Page 2

Boseman and Davis deserves Oscars. Those performances were insanely good and I was so wrapped in the film that I forgot I was watching either of them. 

I am somewhat dissenting here. It's a good film of an almost great play. 

I appreciate that they made Ma Rainey a bigger presence to give the character more, but the play almost is like a jazz concert: the men, playing (acting) together stopping for solos (monologues).  It's all so claustrophobic and necessarily so. In the play Ma only came and went (and sometimes sang) and never had much impact to me. I had seen two good actresses but not great.  But Viola was GREAT.  But allowing her to be great, by opening up the play somewhat, it let some of it's steam out....

I thought Boseman was very good, but I had seen Charles Dutton in the role twice, so that diminished his performance somewhat for me.  Dutton was extraordinary and should have won the Tony easily that year.  I never sensed the curled danger to Levee wtih Boseman.  Again, I thought it was a well thought out, very good performance, but he never frightened me.  Dutton had this sometimes terrifying stillness in his performance and Boseman was doing alot...

Again, however, I thought Viola was outstanding. Best Ma Rainey I have ever seen. And I always love Coleman.

Updated On: 12/21/20 at 10:11 AM

Denzel told the NYT that his hope for the next adaptation is THE PIANO LESSON, directed by Barry Jenkins and starring Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington. Which sounds pretty thrilling.

Just watched it and I absolutely loved it. It makes you realize all over again that Chadwick Boseman was one of his generation's greatest actors who we lost far too early.

Quick question: I'd read the play in Freshman or Sophomore year of college, so I had a fleeting memory of the play. Does the play allude to Ma Rainey being in a lesbian relationship with Dussie Mae? I don't remember if that was in the original script or not. I definitely thought it worked, bringing more depth to Dussie's character, who didn't really have much to do otherwise.

JBroadway said: "@Owen22

That 2003 production was before my time. Didn't even know about it until I read your post, and looked into it. I'm so curious - how was Whoopi in the role?"

She was good, but not great, but she did bring a sense of humor to it Teresa Merritt didn't. She also looks a lot like the real Ma Rainey! 

To Alex:  Yes, Dussie Mae is clearly Ma Rainey's girl.  She and Levee flirt but I don't remember them having sex however. But this is the main reason Ma hates Levee.

 

About a week after seeing it, it's grown on me with memory. Believe it will continue to do so.

Boseman, Davis and Turman's performances strike blazing hot, true instant classics.  I'm a great Wilson lover but had never seen the play and it bowled me over.  Boseman is giving one of those grand performances in the Brando/Dean/Magnanit/de Niro tradition.  If he were still living, he would be the kind of living screen god.  Damn that he's gone.

Updated On: 12/23/20 at 09:37 AM