Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

2020 Directed by George C. Wolfe

It would be an empty world without the blues.

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.

Viola Davis Chadwick Boseman Glynn Turman Colman Domingo Michael Potts Jonny Coyne Taylour Paige Jeremy Shamos Dusan Brown Joshua Harto Quinn VanAntwerp Antonio Fierro Roger Petan

Alternative Title

A Voz Suprema do Blues

drama music

94 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Jay ★★★½ 24

a one, a two, dont step on his shoe
Review by Karsten Runquist ★★★½ 34

Chadwick's performance is seriously electrifying. Sure this has so much else to offer, but it wouldn't come close to being as enthralling as it is without him. All love to Riz, I know I just locked my prediction/pick this same week, but Chadwick has that award in the bag and it's absolutely deserved.
Review by demi adejuyigbe 12

I don't think I like August Wilson very much. Maybe that's because his plays feel to me like any parody of a "black play," which is admittedly probably the snake eating its own tail and me only seeing his work after I've seen the parodies, but it's just not for me! Feels like every monologue in this movie suddenly reminded me that this was definitely a play and I couldn't help but picture characters dramatically walking to a spotlight on the edge of the proscenium. That said, I still liked this! Much more than I liked Fences!
Viola and Chadwick are just stellar, and are both gonna deserve the nominations they get– I fully believe Chadwick would've gotten his nomination…
Review by Siegel™ ★★★★ 17

Chadwick Boseman's final role is an absolute force, as he plays a man who knows what he deserves as well as how stacked the odds are against him. Watching him portray such a role, seeing in his face all the humor, fear, and fury as he brings this dejectedly hopeful character to life, fully aware of his own heartbreaking reality that he does not have enough time to give to the world even a fraction of all the passion that is inside of him, is a powerful experience. Viola Davis is incredible, and the script, lighting, and pacing are impeccable, but it's Boseman and his character who will stay with you long after the credits roll.
single location
Review by Gabriel Gundacker 3

Watched at home with parents. During movies, Mother goes on Facebook and forgets we’re watching a movie, then will turn to us and say “this is interesting — a couple in Atlanta are helping to nurse squirrels back to life!” or something and we nod or don’t nod depending on the time code. She did that once during this movie, too. Other than that, good movie!
Review by James (Schaffrillas) ★★★★ 8

I hope they cleaned that piano in the rehearsal room
Review by Scott Tobias ★★★½

Perfectly fine adaptation of the play-- handsome, well-performed, beautifully written, etc. But this is Chadwick Boseman's show. The performance of a lifetime was his last.
Review by George Clark ★★★★ 7

It's a sad fact that Chadwick Boseman gives arguably the best performance of his career in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play, directed by George C. Wolfe and starring Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts and Jeremy Shamos, the story follows a recording session in 1927 Chicago were tensions begin to rise between Ma Rainey, an ambitious young horn player and their management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues".
The film takes place largely in two rooms, the recording studio and a dark basement where the band rehearses. For a film based off a play, it doesn’t feel stage bound at all as Wolfe finds the right…
Review by Ella Kemp ★★★½

The film is one thing, Chadwick is another. The film feels a little trapped, a little incomplete – everything that's there and happens is compelling, but I wish it moved more freely and we had more time with the story of these characters. Not just them as people but the journeys they go on, the things they see. Chadwick is incandescent, ebullient one second and red-raw another. Everything is better, bigger, more alive and hopeful when he's around. We'll never stop missing him.
Review by allain ★★★★½ 11

I have been staring at my Notes app for almost fifteen minutes now, trying to formulate a review, but I just can’t because I’m honestly speechless. Viola Davis performed spectacularly well, but what caught my attention is Chadwick Boseman’s absolutely phenomenal act. His monologue is hauntingly good that it gave me goosebumps and I’m really sad to know that this is his last performance. The film introduced us to three legendary Black artists, their struggles, and their legacy with riveting performances that will leave an impression, making you want to watch it again.
Note: I’m sorry I’m really exhausted today (finals season and all) but I promise I’ll rewatch it again and make a better review but please give it a watch because it’s really great.
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Review by justmiaslife ★★★½

what if everytime someone called ma rainey "ma" octavia spencer would show up
Review by Ethan Colburn ★★★½ 6

Life is hard without Chadwick Boseman.
It is really an honor to see him act in this movie, and very appropriate that his final performance might be his best.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was originally a play, which becomes apparent as you start watching it. Not only are the sets limited, but it takes place mostly in an afternoon and so much of it is about the stories the characters tell. The whole thing is just an acting clinic, with Viola's performance being particularly impressive. She becomes Ma Rainey in another spectacular entry in her career.
The music or lack thereof, drives the plot forward, and is gorgeous. I love hearing the early blues, and Davis' voice and charisma made…

Recent reviews

Review by Firequackers ★★★½

Bolstered by strong performances, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom gives us a peek into the life of a pioneering blues singer at a recording session.
I felt the strongest aspect by far was the depiction of Ma Rainey herself. Viola Davis undergoes an incredible physical transformation into this massive, imposing and sweaty (seriously) on-screen presence who’s at odds with fellow musician Levee, who wants to move this style of music to another level. Boseman bows out with a memorable swan song as this character, and despite being a fictional creation, his story is one that resonates with many black musicians of his era. He has the passion and the right ideas, but no agency of his own and little hope of…
Review by Noheart ★★★½

From the music to the shoes, every element is dazzling, but it all aches to be put back on a stage where it belongs, including the towering performances from Davis and Boseman.
Review by _leah2 ★★

I really wanted to love this movie...
I loved everyone individually in this film but the storyline was just almost completely missing for me which made it a little but dull, maybe I’m just a girl who loves a good backstory and that’s what was missing for me
Review by Sean McAfee ★★★★

a one a two a give Chadwick the gold
Review by Aaron Wells ★★★½

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom opens with people running through the woods. Imagery that is usually used to communicate being chased and often precedes violence. But before you can think "Who is chasing them?" it's revealed they aren't running from, but running to. They are in a hurry to get to the blues club where Ma Rainey is performing.
The blues grenre was born out of Black pain. A way for the oppressed to turn their communal and personal struggles into catharsis and joy. Ma Rainey knows she's the only person who has what she's got. If anyone else had control of her music, it would lose its connection to the experiences that created it. And she is not afraid to…
Review by r ★★★★★

WOW CHADWICK BOSEMAN’S PERFORMANCE!!!
rest in peace legend we miss you
Review by mads ★★★

a lot of this film didn’t work for me in terms of pacing etc. but this is chadwicks film... and man does he carry it on his shoulders. the performance of his lifetime. we’ll miss you forever <3 hope you’re resting easy up there king.
Review by David McNaboe ★★★★★

Should win an oscar for everything. A F'KN MOVIE!!
Review by Nicolas Inard ★★★½

Similar but not as fascinating as One Night in Miami, this film really stands out for its two central performances, to which Chadwick Boseman deserves all the awards. Truly a big loss.
Review by unaizabhatti ★★★★★

i’m so obsessed with this movie, i loved the music and costumes it just made me very happy and chadwick boseman’s and viola davis’ acting was sooo incredible wowow icons <3
Review by GersonTV ★★★★

Very emotional film that portrays the blues scene and its importance for the black community as well as the life of a music group and a demanding diva in a recreation studio that contained an aspiring member who dreams too high. The performance of Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman was jaw-dropping. I just wish the ending was less open.
Review by Gudenruben ★★★

3/5