Review: "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Hits the Sweetest High Notes

Scene from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

To sing the blues is to pour your heart out to the world. With every aching note, the struggles of the individual reflect a community eager to be heard. It's something that lives inside the Black community, serving as a survival tool throughout years of oppression and reminding everyone what it means to be human. But given how diverse the voices within this group are, one has to ask the question: what is the blues? Who gets to control the direction that it goes? Throughout director George C. Wolfe's fantastic adaptation of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, he explores this question in great detail over a sweltering summer day in 1927. What follows is a phenomenal showcase of talent, finding Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis butting heads with electric performances and even more energetic music. It's one of the year's most vibrant stories and one that never lets up for the entire ride.

The First Trailer for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" Sings a Sweet Melody for Oscar Season

Scene from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Anyone who is doubting that Netflix isn't going to dominate this year's ceremony clearly hasn't been inundated with endless trailers in the past month. It feels like every week now they're introducing a new title that will populate every field, whether it be Mank, The Trial of the Chicago 7, or the latest August Wilson adaptation Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. While there have been various photos released, this trailer marks the first major look at the film which, among other things, marks the final performance by Chadwick Boseman. With all of that said, this Denzel Washington-produced movie looks to follow in the path of Fences with a great movie that not only please crowds but will likely win an Oscar or two.

Review: "Fences" is a Powerhouse Full of Great Acting

Scene from Fences

The process of adapting live theater to film is often seen as a challenge. For the first movie based on beloved playwright August Wilson's work, Denzel Washington tackles Wilson's most revered work that even earned Washington and co-star Viola Davis Tony Awards for its 2010 revival. There's a love to the language and the performance that shines through from the first second of the film as Troy (Washington) comes home from his job as a garbageman. He is cocky, optimistic, but also sour at the wrong turn of phrase. It is a story of the changing tides in African American culture in the 1950's as well as the disappointments and fears of fathers passing the baton on to another generation. As an adaptation, it's as riveting and engrossing as acting is likely to get in 2016. As a movie, it leaves plenty to be desired.

The First "Fences" is Here for Oscar Season to Like It

Scene from Fences

As October approaches, it's time to take the Oscar season a lot more seriously. Earlier this week, we saw Martin Scorsese join the race with Silence. Other films like La La Land and Moonlight have been receiving acclaim at various film festivals ahead of their releases. While it is likely that most of the surefire nominees are already known, director Denzel Washington's Fences has released its first teaser to suggest that things aren't as locked up as they appear. Based on an August Wilson play (who also wrote the screenplay), it's a story of a father's struggle with race relations and family in the 1950's. To say the least, it's intense, and sure to get Washington and co-star Viola Davis easy access to the nominations circle this Fall.