By Danni Harris
Three-time Academy Award nominee Viola Davis gives another stellar performance as Ma Rainey, in the Netflix original, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”.
The film, which has now received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, premiered on Netflix in November 2020.
The film follows one riveting, yet fatal, recording session of early twentieth century Blues legend Ma Rainey. In his final film, the late Chadwick Boseman gives a heartfelt performance as Levee Green, the antagonist of the film. His many outburst and monologues kept audiences in tears.
The film touches on many taboo subjects of the Blues singer’s life. From abuse to racism to sexuality to divisions of power, each character represents a different aspect of American life, specifically Black-American life.
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is based off of a play, originally written by renown playwright August Wilson. In his earlier years, Wilson also wrote “Fences”, which was adapted into a film in 2016. Davis starred alongside Denzel Washington in the film, resulting with both of them being nominated for Academy Awards. Davis won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal as Rose Lee Maxson.
Washington, who is a connoisseur of Wilson’s work, produced “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. Before he took on this adventure, Washington directed “Fences”. As many have noticed, Davis and Washington work well together. The pair have starred in films and plays together, dating back to 2010.
“There are few actors or actresses who can actually make a role. And she is one of them. Viola is a brilliant woman and actress,” Washington said in a 2017 interview.
Even as a short film, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” epitomizes the way Black stories should be told. Viola Davis delivers a beautiful performance as the singer. Davis embodies Rainey’s characteristics and brings life to the character, which is much needed for Rainey, who has widely been forgotten about.
Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman are both nominated for Academy Awards. If Davis wins, she will continue to make history as the first Black woman to receive two Academy Awards (making her the second Black person to have more than one Academy Award, behind Denzel Washington). She has already made history as the only Black woman to be nominated three times for an Academy Award. If Boseman wins for Best Actor, this will be his first Academy Award win, in which will be received posthumously.
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