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.

When Washington announced that he planned to make every Wilson show into a movie, it proposed an exciting gambit. The late playwright dedicated his life to creating shows that reflected the Black identity throughout the decades, finding ways to make their stories come to life and hold deeper meaning. With Fences, he found one of the perfect examples of why this will be an interesting time, especially if he gets all of them out in a timely manner. The language pops and the performances have so much life that simply drinking in the backyard feels like the greatest feeling in the world. Together Washington and Wilson understood what made these characters in some ways timeless.

But the question now stands if any other filmmaker can capture the same magic. It's true that Washington didn't play any role from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom onstage, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have some passion for the work. It's curious to see what he'll do as producer, handing over director's duties to George C. Wolfe. Will he deliver something that turns the stagey elements of the show into vibrant art? One can hope and considering their charismatic cast, it's likely to be the case. If nothing else, it finds Viola Davis returning to the realm of Wilson after winning an overdue Oscar for Fences. Is this the chance for her to win a second?

There's a lot of fun speculation to be had with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, though none are unfortunately more timely than whether this will be Boseman's shot at an Oscar. While it would've been talked about any way you look at it, his untimely passing earlier this year only makes it difficult to ignore. Given that he's already had one of the best supporting roles of 2020 in Da 5 Bloods, it feels like everything is place for posthumous recognition, putting him in a special camp with actors like James Dean, Peter Finch, and Heath Ledger for actors to win posthumously. It all depends, but given how the previous Wilson production went, things are looking up, making it more than a sympathy win.

Check out the trailer below:

Looks very good. Here's the plot description according to IMDb:

Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues". Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play.

It sounds like it will be yet another home run for Netflix. In a year where theaters are closed and it doesn't as if there are too many alternatives for film fans to get quality new movies, it feels like this is going to show up big alongside many of the other big competitors. If nothing else, the cinematography is gorgeous and Davis looks like she's preparing for another intense role. The question now is if it will be as good. It's safe to say that it has a good company to make it believable. All it has to do is not disappoint and everything will be fine.