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Jack Sparrow
KJ's Leading Idiot
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36949
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 Ma Rainy's Black Bottom  Quote: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is a 2020 American drama film directed by George C. Wolfe and written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, based on the play of the same name by August Wilson. Produced by Denzel Washington, Todd Black, and Dany Wolf, the film stars Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (in his final film appearance), with Glynn Turman, Colman Domingo, and Michael Potts in supporting roles.
The project was originally announced alongside Denzel Washington's Fences in 2013 as part of his 10-picture deal with HBO. The adaptation eventually moved to Netflix, with the cast joining in July 2019 and filming commencing that same month in Pittsburgh.
Boseman died during post-production in August 2020, making Black Bottom his final film appearance.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom began a limited theatrical release on November 25, 2020, before beginning to stream on Netflix on December 18. The film was acclaimed by critics, who lauded the performances of Davis and Boseman, as well as the costumes and production design.
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| Sat Dec 19, 2020 7:36 pm |
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thompsoncory
Rachel McAdams Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 14621
Location: LA / NYC
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom It's decent. I appreciate the craftsmanship of these Netflix awards contenders this year and this is certainly more engaging than Mank, but this felt very stagey and bland in terms of direction. Chadwick Boseman was great though and Viola was also as engaging as ever. B
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| Sat Dec 19, 2020 11:17 pm |
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Dil
Forum General
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:48 pm
Posts: 8942
Location: Houston, Texas
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom It's a bit stagey and bland in terms of direction, but I really loved the performances in this, especially from Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis. The whole cast was great in there roles IMO, but those two really stood out the most and Boseman nearly brought me to tears in two of his biggest scenes. Damn am I going to miss that talented man  . B+
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| Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:08 am |
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Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 25381
Location: Classified
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom I was really enjoying this up until the finale. So Chadwick, who was kind of an asshole but still likeable and drives the movie, straight up murders his friend and the other two ... just stand there looking disappointed? Are you fucking kidding me? Go get some help! It was fucking ridiculous. And what am I supposed to feel bad the psycho murderer had his songs stolen? Fuck off.
For all but the last five minutes this movie has a ton of style. Good music, great performances, very tense and sexy. The ending just ruins it all though and made me hate every character. Difficult to grade, maybe I’ll get over it, but I doubt it.
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| Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:11 am |
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Dil
Forum General
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:48 pm
Posts: 8942
Location: Houston, Texas
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom I wasn't big on the ending either, but all that build-up and tension was definitely leading to something violent/tragic happening with Chadwick's character IMO. It's true that his character wasn't all that likable, but I understood why he was so bitter and full of hate and they do pretty much explain it with those monologues he had about his parents.
Poor Glynn Turman deserved better though and I do wish we saw more of a reaction from the rest of the band to what was pretty much a cold blooded murder.
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| Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:35 am |
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Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 25381
Location: Classified
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom Yeah I understood why they’d have go in a tragic direction, with Chadwick finally erupting on someone who had nothing to do with his pain. I cannot forgive the other band members for just standing there and doing nothing. It’s so absurd. It’s like they filmed an ending where the other men in the room are still watching an incident involving a shoe and they added the murder in after.
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| Sun Dec 20, 2020 2:50 am |
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thompsoncory
Rachel McAdams Fan
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:13 am
Posts: 14621
Location: LA / NYC
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom The ending illustrates why this wasn't amazing for me. This felt like a filmed play. And the ending also felt like an ambiguous play ending that didn't translate well at all cinematically.
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| Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:02 am |
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Jack Sparrow
KJ's Leading Idiot
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36949
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Re: Ma Rainy's Black Bottom This did not work for me. I only loved Davis' character/actor and she wasn't in this enough. I liked over-the-top Boseman but his performance at times felt too staged and brought me out of the movie. The whole thing felt like a stage play that has been reimagined which I didn't love here. The ending was great but not powerful enough to elevate the movie.
C+
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| Mon Dec 21, 2020 6:03 am |
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