Bessie

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: May 16, 2015
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20

Critic Reviews

  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    May 11, 2015
    50
    The musical numbers are terrific, and the film has its strong moments.... But these individual, scattered scenes don’t add up to a cohesive story, which marks Bessie as a disappointing missed opportunity.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    May 14, 2015
    40
    Bessie shows us an assortment of moments from that life but doesn’t really make us feel it, despite Queen Latifah’s best efforts. Blame a choppy presentation that checks off points in the Bessie Smith timeline but doesn’t probe them or knit them together.

Awards & Rankings

62
#62 Best TV Season of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 20
  3. Negative: 7 out of 20
  1. CheysMama
    May 17, 2015
    8
    Awesome performances by the entire cast! Would have liked for the ending to at least, elude to the tragic accident surrounding her death or aAwesome performances by the entire cast! Would have liked for the ending to at least, elude to the tragic accident surrounding her death or a prologue describing the performers she influenced.… Full Review »
  2. SportinJoe
    May 26, 2015
    1
    My God this is such a bad movie it stuns! The director couldn't quite make up her mind about whether Bessie Smith was a wild child, torturedMy God this is such a bad movie it stuns! The director couldn't quite make up her mind about whether Bessie Smith was a wild child, tortured by her childhood or a nice girl who just wanted to sit in a cotton field on a sunny day and listen to the birds sing. Whether she was a gritty down in the dirt blues singer or a warbling Broadway wannabe. Whether she wanted to drink and party all night or if she wanted to be a mama to an orphan boy (gag me with a Dickens). This monstrosity is so full of cliches, both in the storytelling and the visually over blown assaults on our senses one can only assume that the director and writer were sampling the bootleggers wares themselves. Add to it the disjointed narrative that jumps forward in apparently unrelated ways and leaves out major things like the drug abuse and...well you feel drunk throughout this clunker. Worst of all, however, is Queen L and the 'music'. Janis Joplin channeled Bessie Smith in the 60's and there are a few black blues singers around today who really can do it but Queeny ain't one of em. Modern recording rescues her barely adequate voice but nothing can save her inability to feel the blues. Listen to Bessie then Janis then this screecher to hear the difference. And where the heck is 'St. Louis Blues" with Louis Armstrong at? How could they omit that from this movie? That song was the first crossover hit to white audiences by black artists about the black experience and really changed American music forever but you wouldn't know Bessie's role in that seminal piece of music from this dishrag bio pic! QL couldn't handle the vocals would be my guess. Add to that the paper cutter portrayal of all white people, even John Hammond, and you will find yourself wondering how they got this horrible thing made. HBO must have lost a bet on the dog races.… Full Review »
  3. DMH
    May 19, 2015
    3
    With such a great cast, I was truly disappointed with the script. The editing appeared to have been done by an amateur. There was no realWith such a great cast, I was truly disappointed with the script. The editing appeared to have been done by an amateur. There was no real flow of time passing. The scenes were quick and let you dangling.
    What a shame to see such a waste of talent. Queen and Mo'nique, the rest of the cast, were really terrific.
    Further, the abrupt ending made it worse.    … Full Review »
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