Fireworks Logo

Latest Bi Additions...

  • Since the Last Time We Met
  • Alexander: The Making of a God
  • 5 Devils (The)
  • Interview with the Vampire
  • Law of Love (The)
  • They/Them
  • Anaïs in Love
  • Joe Lycett's Big Pride Party
  • Rose West: Born Evil?
  • Camila Comes Out Tonight
  • Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman
  • Frida Kahlo
  • Saint-Narcisse
  • Don Filipo
  • Our Dance of Revolution
  • Tiny Pretty Things
  • Cicada
  • Billie
  • Stardust
  • Family Tree (The)
  • Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
  • Shirley
  • We Are Who We Are
  • Lawyer (The)
  • True History of the Kelly Gang
  • Killing Eve
  • Pride & Protest
  • Liberty
  • Rialto
  • Dracula
  • Insatiable
  • Abby's
  • Again Once Again
  • Why Women Kill
  • All Yours
  • Antonio Lopez 1970: Sex Fashion & Disco
  • Mapplethorpe
  • Diamantino
  • Synonyms
  • Colette

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Country: USA, Language: English, 94 mins

  • Director: George C. Wolfe
  • Writer: Ruben Santiago-Hudson; August Wilson
  • Producer: Todd Black; Denzel Washington; Dany Wolf

CGiii Comment

Despite the title, this is not about Ma Rainey. It's about an entirely fictional, whiny trumpet player and his bloody shoes! Mistake.

Dialogue driven, rather than music driven...mistake!

There are too many monologues. Too, too many unnecessary/irrelevant conversations...and not enough music! Mistake.

Three strikes...and you are out!

And...Ma's bisexuality is more of a hint than an nod!

However...

There are two incredible performances.

There is one stupendous moment...followed by some great music.

There is one earth-shattering conversation about the white man's God...touching on that bizarre cultural appropriation [that no-one ever seems to mention]
... as to how and why the black community embraced and continues to fervently embrace this white man's religion...and, are now the custodians of that hateful doctrine.

The ending...well, that's a sucker-punch to other kinds of appropriation, cultural and copyright...yes, folks, cultural appropriation is not a one-way street, think of it more as spaghetti junction!

Powerful, it most certainly is. Over-written, to its detriment. Beautifully photographed and designed. Indeed, fantastically performed...and, incomprehensibly, lacking in the music department...and, not enough Viola!

Running at only 86 minutes...you will feel verbally abused and musically short changed! George C. Wolfe missed a great opportunity...where two great actors could have lunged at each other from different viewpoints...tradition vs modernity...and, a love triangle that could have been explosive!

As for Ruben Santiago-Hudson's adaptation...c'mon, he didn't adapt [much] from the stage...for the screen. Some [i.e most] plays should remain in the theatre...this is a prime example.

Ma Rainey's story and music needs to heard in its entirety...and, Viola Davis is the woman to tell it. Think of this as the pitch film for the bigger, more truthful, showstopper!


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

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.

Cast & Characters

Viola Davis as Ma Rainey;
Chadwick Boseman as Levee;
Colman Domingo as Cutler;
Glynn Turman as Toledo;
Michael Potts as Slow Drag;
Jeremy Shamos as Irvin;
Jonny Coyne as Sturdyvant;
Taylour Paige as Dussie Mae;
Dusan Brown as Sylvester;
Joshua Harto as Policeman;
Quinn Vanantwerp as Band Singer;
Chloe Davis as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Mayte Natalio as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Johanna Elmina Moise as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Onyxx Noel as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
LaWanda Hopkins as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Sierra Stewart as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Malaiyka Reid as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Catherine Foster as Ma Rainey's Dancer;
Keith Otto as Businessman