Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Netflix | Release Date: November 25, 2020
6.7
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 174 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
113
Mixed:
36
Negative:
25
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
Wolfie2Feb 27, 2021
Why is the rating for this movie 87? it is more or less the same as fences but not as good as fences? i can only assume the current political climate and the passing of Boseman lead to the high rating which is a shame the movie is not judgedWhy is the rating for this movie 87? it is more or less the same as fences but not as good as fences? i can only assume the current political climate and the passing of Boseman lead to the high rating which is a shame the movie is not judged based on its ****… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
tropicAcesNov 25, 2020
Everything is fantastic, except the script. Boseman gives a great swan song performance, and the costumes and production design deserve Oscar nominations. The issue is the screenplay, which doesn’t know how to make things organically flow.Everything is fantastic, except the script. Boseman gives a great swan song performance, and the costumes and production design deserve Oscar nominations. The issue is the screenplay, which doesn’t know how to make things organically flow. Still worth checking out for Chad, though… Expand
5 of 6 users found this helpful51
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6
CameronW9Nov 25, 2020
So i've heard all the praise surrounding this film and the performances so i made sure to see it as soon as possible and i was let down. The film consists of lots of loud dramatic monologing and the fact that it comes from a play is clear.So i've heard all the praise surrounding this film and the performances so i made sure to see it as soon as possible and i was let down. The film consists of lots of loud dramatic monologing and the fact that it comes from a play is clear. Sure the actors were fine but it was nothing particularly ground-breaking as the reviews make it out to be.
Like Fences it has similar themes and the characters have similar overly dramatic monologs which it seems the people who have seen this have taken as an incredible feat of acting for some reason. However in my opinion it just seemed forced and again too stagy.
I think people are rating this film on obvious tragic factors which do not involve the film itself which is a shame and quite disappointing as they should be judging the film on its merits as they would any other film but that seems to be to much to ask of people currently.
Overall this film is ok, it has highly contrived dramatic speeches and the sets, costume, lighting and the general technical aspects of the film are nice. However it it too heavy handed in its handling of the story and the actors are sometimes guilty of overacting.… Expand
4 of 9 users found this helpful45
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6
perryat02Dec 19, 2020
Kind of disappointing tbh Not enough Viola too much Boseman. Not engaging and pretensious
1 of 4 users found this helpful13
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6
Brent_MarchantJan 9, 2021
When all the makings of a great film are in place, one expects to see an outstanding picture. Unfortunately, that's not the case with "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." While most of its ingredients are indeed noteworthy -- superb production values,When all the makings of a great film are in place, one expects to see an outstanding picture. Unfortunately, that's not the case with "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." While most of its ingredients are indeed noteworthy -- superb production values, stellar writing, and the positively exceptional performances by Chadwick Boseman (his final role), Viola Davis and Glynn Turman -- the components just don't mesh into a cohesive whole. Instead, viewers get an overly stagey production that consists of a series of insightful and eloquent soliloquies interspersed among occasional (though one might easily say far too few) musical numbers and meticulously orchestrated comic relief moments. Regrettably, the finished product feels more like parts of a story that got haphazardly glued together rather than a harmoniously blended composite, essentially a day in the life of the Mother of the Blues and the various individuals she interacted with on that day but not offering much depth about the relevance, meaning or legacy of those involvements. Consequently, despite the film's strengths, viewers are likely to come away from this offering wanting more than they get, and that's unfortunate, both for audiences and for Ma Rainey, both of whom definitely deserve better.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
MattBrady99Dec 20, 2020
"Why did you step on my shoe?"

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' is beautifully written character study that is glued together by fantastic music and costumes. The movie is an hour and 34 minutes long, yet leaves no room for filler, only the"Why did you step on my shoe?"

'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' is beautifully written character study that is glued together by fantastic music and costumes. The movie is an hour and 34 minutes long, yet leaves no room for filler, only the nitty-gritty of things.

Based on a stage play by August Wilson, the movie is structured and staged almost like a theatrical production, remarkably like 'Fences', another August Wilson adaptation. I think all of Wilson's film adaptations should approach this kind of style, because it helps make his work stand out from the other movie adaptations in a unique way.

Viola Davis is terrific as "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey. Me calling her amazing isn't anything new, because when has Davis ever given a mediocre performance.

Chadwick Boseman....wow. Not since Peter Finch in 'Network' and Heath Ledger in 'The Dark Knight', as an actor made his final bow on screen so legendary. I can only describe his performance as both heart-breaking and epic. With his death in mind, the scenes where his character goes into long and heated monologues that later changes its aim and point towards God; asking why the lord hates him so much for him to suffer, asking him to strike him down, yelling at the top of his brittle voice and tearful eyes, to strike him down where he stands, almost begging to be set free from the torment he had to endure for most of his life. Scenes like that hit differently now. Incredibly powerful.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
LilScienceJan 4, 2022
Acho de uma riqueza a cultura R&B, Blues e Soul, estilos que vinham da cultura negra e apresentavam artistas com vozes belíssimas, que carregavam um poder enorme.

Em tese o filme boa parte é voltado a gravação do disco da cantora e íconeAcho de uma riqueza a cultura R&B, Blues e Soul, estilos que vinham da cultura negra e apresentavam artistas com vozes belíssimas, que carregavam um poder enorme.

Em tese o filme boa parte é voltado a gravação do disco da cantora e ícone representado por Viola Davis 'Ma Rainey' que entregou uma bela atuação diga-se de passagem, se nota no filme que o foco foi aquele único dia no estúdio, e também aparece muitas histórias dos músicos que trabalhavam com ela relatando o racismo e como era tratado as pessoas negras no passado.
No filme a Ma se impunha a atitude de uma original 'Big Momma' (Haha) e fazia questão de ter as suas exigências atendidas, por outro lado eu acredito se contasse a história dela desde pequena seria muito mais interessante, percebo hoje em dia nos filmes biográficos ficam presos num momento só ex: O filme de Judy Garland, para entender a história é necessário mostrar toda a juventude, momentos de como foi a ascensão, que até teve no começo mas foi pouco, e o triste final também que foi trágico da morte de um dos músicos, que morreu no estúdio mesmo, foi um tanto quanto chocante, esperava do filme mais detalhes da carreira de Ma.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Dec 22, 2020
A part of this film disappointed me, more than anything because the way in which it constructs its tale forces the situations in order that each scene reflects a social commentary, consequently there's very little that can be said to be aA part of this film disappointed me, more than anything because the way in which it constructs its tale forces the situations in order that each scene reflects a social commentary, consequently there's very little that can be said to be a true story, it's more like an anecdote.

Ma Rainey was a daring figure. The so-called Mother of Blues, was one of the first singers of the genre to be recorded, but in the film there is very little of her, if we speak seriously.

But certainly the marketing knows its strengths, and brings to the spotlight the mainstays of this story: Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman.

For Viola Davis it's another showcase to continue demonstrating her talent as an actress, while for Chadwick Boseman it becomes a tribute to his career, considering that he delivers one of his best performances.
I can safely assure that both will get nominations for their roles in the upcoming awards season.
Will they win some? Of that I'm not sure at all. Almost the entire film takes place in a recording studio, so there's barely changes of tone or pace in the narrative, so it's easy to say that this film won't be for all kind of audiences, but still is an excellent performance vehicle for its two lead actors, which in the end, is the best reason to watch this film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Iamcritical86Mar 26, 2021
This wasn't as good as I was hoping. Viola Davis's screen presence was superb, however, but the rest of the picture was a drag. I didn't very much care for the long, dragged out scenes with all the yammering and bickering between the bandThis wasn't as good as I was hoping. Viola Davis's screen presence was superb, however, but the rest of the picture was a drag. I didn't very much care for the long, dragged out scenes with all the yammering and bickering between the band members. It felt like the story was more about THEM than Ma Rainey. I didn't care for the ending either - how it just dropped off the way it did, and Viola should've had a bigger part. With a stronger script and more of Viola, this film would have scored much better with me.... but we got what we got!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
henryzandtDec 18, 2020
Ma Rainey disappointed me. Probably because I was expecting a film about Ma Rainey's life. It is not. It is more like a day in the life of Ma Rainey. A film (and actually a screened play) about racial contradictions. Relevant, but not theMa Rainey disappointed me. Probably because I was expecting a film about Ma Rainey's life. It is not. It is more like a day in the life of Ma Rainey. A film (and actually a screened play) about racial contradictions. Relevant, but not the biography I wanted to see. The leading role is actually not for Viola Davis (Ma Rainey) but for Chadwick Boseman (Levee). Great acting, beautiful atmosphere, though.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
dfelixfJan 6, 2021
Viola y Chadwick brillan en sus papeles. El vestuario y maquillaje están bastante bien, pero es algo lenta, no arriesgan ni proponen nada nuevo, se siente como una película que ya has visto antes.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
AJ_13Jan 11, 2021
Good message and good performances by Chadwick (clearly the lead role), Viola (in my opinion not a lead but a supporting role) and band members, specially Colman.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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