Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Viola DavisMa Rainey
- Chadwick BosemanLevee
- Colman DomingoCutler
- Glynn TurmanToledo
- Michael PottsSlow Drag
- Jeremy ShamosIrvin
- Jonny CoyneSturdyvant
- Taylour PaigeDussie Mae
- Dusan BrownSylvester
- Joshua HartoPoliceman
Recommendations
- 100
BBC
The film takes place largely in two down and dirty rooms, the recording studio and a basement where the band rehearses, but it doesn’t feel stage bound. Wolfe finds the right balance between letting Wilson’s trademark monologues flow and shooting them in a cinematic way that keeps the film moving. - 91
The A.V. Club
It’s important to note that there would not even be a show to admire without the trailblazing career of Ma Rainey, which Davis recognizes and honors with her otherworldly portrayal. Still, this is undoubtedly Boseman’s show and will likely live on as his greatest work. - 88
USA Today
Rollicking and heartbreaking in equal measure, the period musical drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom plays all the right notes, from Viola Davis mightily singing the blues to a brilliant, shattering final performance from the late Chadwick Boseman. - 88
RogerEbert.com
Boseman never gave less than one hundred percent to his often demanding roles. His work here as the trumpet player, Levee, is no exception. It’s no stretch to say his last performance may be his finest. - 85
TheWrap
Even if this version never shakes off its stage roots, it does act as a stately jewel box that houses an extraordinary ensemble of performances. - 80
The Guardian
This is Boseman’s final performance on screen, and what a glorious performance to go out on. It is a head-butting confrontation of the galácticos: Davis and Boseman are each the immovable object and irresistible force. - 80
Empire
Boseman and Davis deliver superb performances in this timeless meditation on Black art, and those who would exploit it. Yet another fine adaptation of an August Wilson play. - 75
IndieWire
An actor’s showcase for Viola Davis as the show-stopping singer and the late Chadwick Boseman as the scheming trumpeter angling to steal her spotlight, director George C. Wolfe’s reverential adaptation livens up the material with sizzling color and vivid closeups. Save for a few digressions, however, Wolfe and screenwriter Ruben Santiago-Hudson have put the play into the movie, rather than vice versa.
