Ma Rainey's Black Bottom--A Stunning Achievement

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

    By Joseph Cervelli

First, thanks needs to be paid to Denzel Washington for being responsible in bringing the late August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" to Netflix. His goal (bless him!) is to bring all ten of the incomparable Wilson's canon of plays in the "Pittsburgh Cycle" that depict the struggles of African Americans through the 20th Century to film. "Ma Rainey" which appeared on Broadway in 1984  and may have been the only one in the series that I missed, is now gloriously brought to life. Directed with fierceness and tenderness by George C. Wolfe  it boasts the superb Viola Davis as the lead character and an overwhelmingly amazing performance by the late Chadwick Boseman. It is astonishing that he was so ill making this his last film and looking so sadly frail that I sat in awe at how  he could pull this through. He died at such a young age that I still think back at how versatile (an overused word that still applies here) he was portraying among other characters, such as,  James Brown, Thurgood Marshall and Jackie Robinson. He may be one of the few actors who can actually take your attention from Davis he is that good.

Perhaps, Gertrude Rainey was given the moniker "Ma" because she certainly was the Earth Mother of Blues. The film is set in 1927 with two young men running through the woods in the South and your immediate thought is that a group of white men are after them. They actually want to get a seat to see Rainey perform in what looks like a barn. With what could pass as Grand Guignol makeup she moves around in seductive moods singing in a deep throated voice conveying sexuality and sadness. The all black audience goes wild as she is certainly the temptress of the blues. Later on she explains that only Blacks can really appreciate and understand the blues because of what they have felt though years.  She may not use that exact word "racism"  but it definitely is what she is indicating.

She along with her girlfriend Dussie May (Taylour Paige), nephew Sylvester (Dusan Brown) and band head and to Chicago to record some of her most famous songs. The band being played by all excellent actors Culter (Colman Domingo), Toledo (Glynn Thurman) and Slow Drag (Michael Potts) all kowtow to her. The only one who does not give in is the self assured cornet player Levee (Boseman) who has written a new arrangement for one of her big hits which is the title of the play and she will not accept.She wants the old arrangement and wants to include her stuttering nephew to make the intro on the song.  While Ma has nothing to worry fear from Levee except he is outspoken and does not adhere to her whims,  she dislikes him. If he feels that something could be improved in a recording he will speak his mind and his ultimate goal is to form his own band. She also feels that he is coming on (and he certainly is)  to her bisexual girlfriend. Despite her volcanic personality (just one glance from her searing eyes and you are apt to go weak) she is intimidated by his talents. The other two major characters are her manager Irvin (the always fine Jeremy Shamos) and album producer Sturdyvant played by Jonny Coyne. Irvin also gives into her and when she refuses to sing one note until she gets her Coca Cola he is at her beck and call.

 

When Sylvester who was driving the car to Chicago gets into a fender bender near the recording studio  and they are the only blacks surrounded by whites who are looking, the only one that seems unfrightened is Ma. She looks at them not with contempt and this is a delicate balance of Davis's fine acting, but with an assuredness that they better not make any derogatory comments.

The scenes that have the play's most shattering effects include the monologue from Levee telling about how as a child he witnessed his mother's rape by a group of white men who broke into their home and later lynched his father. As if Boseman does not break your heart with this, his blasphemous rants cause ire among the band especially Toledo leading into a tragic conclusion are unforgettable. 

If you are looking for a biography on Ma Rainey this is not the film for that. Wilson with his poetic and magnetic words set the stage for understanding the black experience and how the various characters fit into it. 

This first in the series of Wilson's plays being presented is a stunning achievement.