Ma Rainey was considered “Mother of the Blues” and this film is a fictionalized account of a 1927 recording session based on the play by August Wilson. This not a musical or even a narrative. It’s more about the characters and their conflicts. Viola Davis (in lots of makeup and a fat suit) embodies Ma with intimating gusto. The biggest clash comes from her rambunctious trumpeter (Chadwick Boseman in an electrifying final performance). Being that it’s taken from a Wilson play, you can expect extended monologues about traumatic event in pasts of the major players. Even with that, this is a compelling showcase for all of the actors, George C. Wolfe’s direction keeps it crisp and absorbing.
Interesting fact: Davis won the Oscar for Best Supporting in 2017 for her role in Fences, another Wilson play adapted for the screen.
(4 / 5)