Ma Rainey's Black Bottom--Movie Review (Non-Spoiler)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom--a film adaption of the play by acclaimed playwright August Wilson (Fences, The Piano Lesson)--comes to us from Netflix and director George C. Wolfe (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks).  The film stars Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis in Oscar-worthy roles, and tells the story of "trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band [who gather] at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927," while tensions rise. 

Going into this film, I did not know what to expect, as I was never introduced to this particular August Wilson play, and I was anxious to see Chadwick Boseman in his final performance.  I cannot tell you why, exactly, but I felt a certain heaviness before viewing.  And while there are moments throughout to justify that feeling, I can assure you it was not because of a sick or feeble Chadwick.  He truly shines here, and proves why he is a cinematic legend, and why he will remain one.

You can say the same for Viola Davis, too.  Her snappy and soulful Ma Rainey is a sight to behold.  She not only gives one of the year's best performances, but, in my opinion, one of the best performances of the last ten years.  If these two actors do not at least get Oscar nominations, then there is some serious reevaluating to do.  The whole cast was stellar, but these were the standouts.

Without August Wilson, though, we would have never got to see any of these performances come to fruition.  He is the glue that holds everything together.  He is what gives the film its voice.  That is because his dialogue is so rich and so deeply layered that he can make you laugh in one line and gut punch you in the one directly after.  He's that good, and I am sure he would more than approve of how his work turned out cinematically.  This is the best film adaption of his since Fences.  (The film that earned Viola Davis her first Oscar.  Keep that Oscar dress on standby, Viola.)

If I had to give any "criticisms," I would only say that I wanted to see more of these characters--especially in the final moments of the film.  I do not know if additional time spent with them would have made more or less of an impact, but I was so immersed and invested that I did not want to leave (take that as you will).  However, you can tell why August Wilson chose to go where he did with the story, and there is no denying his brilliant thematic focus.

Overall, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a powerhouse of a film that is one of the best of the year.  

"A one, a two, a you know what to do..."

Go check out Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, now streaming on Netflix.  It is one of the most important films of the year.

I give it a...

4.5/5

The Devil All the Time--Movie Review (Non-Spoiler)

Hello, and welcome to my first "official" movie review.  I do not know what inspired me to create this blog; I do not know if anyone cares to read this blog; I do not know if I will write more reviews after this one--all I know is that, as of now, I feel like talking about a new Netflix film aptly titled The Devil All the Time.

The Devil All the Time is a dramatic thriller/mystery that was directed by the talented and unsung director, Antonio Campos.  Mr. Campos leads an all-star cast, too, that consists of Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Bill Skarsgard, and Jason Clarke to name only a few.  

The film is also based off of Donald Ray Pollack's novel of the same name, and revolves around "sinister characters [who] converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality" (IMDb).  I had to go with the IMDb synopsis here, as they explain the plot in a simple, concise manner without giving anything away.  So with that, let's get into it.

I really enjoyed this film.  I did not read the novel, or even see a trailer for it beforehand, so I did not know what I was getting myself into, but I emerged from the experience pleasantly surprised.  Immediately, I was taken aback by Saunder Jurriaans beautifully haunting score, Lol Crawley's picture-perfect cinematography, captivating performances around the board (especially from Pattinson's vile Reverend Preston), and Antonio Campos' confident direction.  Before a word was spoken, it became clear that I was in the presence of a true filmmaker, and that is the biggest compliment I can give any film.  And when the dialogue did come into play, it remained naturally engaging, so I remained glued to the screen in return.  I genuinely wanted to know what would happen to the characters, whether I loved or hated them, and I even became emotionally attached to a select few, as well.  Yes, the circumstances were, at times, a bit too coincidental, but I really did not mind in the end, as the narrative had compelling characters with phenomenal actors.

It has been said, though, that these characters are the epitome of "misery" and that there is really "no hope" for them, which, in return, makes for a painful, unnecessary watch.  I wholeheartedly disagree.  While The Devil All the Time is heavy and violent at times (okay, very violent), I could not help but feel uplifted by the end.  To me, the constructive themes triumph the torment, and give the conflicts, misery, and bloodshed throughout valid (and necessary) meaning.  The novel, film-making, and thematic elements all align with one another, and could not have been done much better than it was here; this should be acknowledged, felt, and realized, as this was presumably no easy task.  

Overall, though it may be a bit too heavy and outlandish for some, The Devil All the Time is still a ferociously fascinating film that explores deep, dark themes, all while remaining a relevantly enthralling dramatic mystery.  

I give it a...

4/5