When Chadwick was angry with God, that was a spiritual journey. He was outstanding.

That wasn't enough for me and that man stole levees songs were the saddest and it's still happening today after all these years😭

This movie was stunning the last shot is haunting the anger is necessary and the characters are too real

I loved this movie..all day I been in my head like “a one...a two.. a you know what to doooo” 😂😂😂😂

There were a lot of lessons taught in this movie. Some interesting perspectives I picked up in this movie were 1.Levee tried to upstage Ma Rainey at the beginning while performing on stage. He busted out with his own horn solo which was not approved by Ma Rainey( pride and coveting the spotlight ). Was his arrangement good? Yes it was! Nevertheless, that was not his time to be in the spotlight; it was hers. He was not the leader of the group, she was. Therefore he was wrong for that. 2. When the band was at the studio, waiting for Ma Rainey to show up, the older band members tried to show Levee the error of his ways. They tried to tell him the best way they could, but he wouldn’t listen because he was focused on what he wanted to do ( present his own music and make a name for himself) . Nothing wrong with that in general, but he was in the wrong space at the wrong time trying to do it. That’s one of the main reasons there was so much conflict there. There is no “Levee’s version “ of the song or “ the original version” of the song when Ma,, the song writer ,was not consulted about it, nor did she approve any changes. And Ma Rainey already instructed them on what to do. There is only the version that she wrote and approved. She had a specific genre and sound she wanted to make. 3. He flirted with and had sex with Ma Rainey partner. Self explanatory. 4. When Ma Rainey told Levee to his face amongst witnesses that this was her recording and the music that she gave them to play was going on the recording, he was nasty, arrogant and prideful in his response to her authority. He kept going back and forth with her. She skillfully wielded her authority and he cooled off. 5 ) It’s one thing to have talent , and it’s something totally different to understand business. Levee was talented, but didn’t understand the business. She knew all to well they were shady, but knew her worth and value. She had a foliowing . Her music was already known and played in the public before she recorded. The Record company couldn’t steal her stuff because it was already out there. She could make demands because she was proven. She could make ultimatums and threaten to walk , and the Record label had to come through with their end of the deal . She was as shrewd as they were. Levee , on the other had was not. His pride and arrogance blinded him and left him lacking. Had he not been so prideful, and respected her , things would have went a different route for him. He could have learned some things from her about how to do business in a crooked business and come out with something. He just GAVE Sturdyvant his music to look at and expected him to be honest and fair. He incorrectly assumed , once again , that because he was a talented musician and wrote good songs he would automatically get compensation for what he thought he was worth. And , once again, he thought wrong. This time, he actually got taken advantage of . But did he lash out at the one who actually messed him over? Nope . Ma Rainey And the band members was telling him right the whole time , and all he did was argue back and forth,be stubborn, resistant, petty and wouldn’t listen. When the white man is the one who actually did him wrong , he kept silent. He vented all his pinned up frustration and rage on those who were on his side. He even killed an old man band member who accidentally stepped on his shoe. He self destructed. Levee was a very troubled young man who was a talented horn player. Unfortunately, his pent up rage, hurt, misplaced anger, unforgiveness , and lack of understanding fueled by pride , lead him to a destructive path that ended in him murdering an innocent person. What I got out of this movie was more that just how musicians get taken advantage of. I got out of it that there are a lot of times, people are destroyed from within , but just don’t see it.

Chadwick acting was so compelling i was in awe when he told the story of his mother

Toledo deserved better than that shit. Bruh 😒💔💔💔

Many dynamics in this movie, PTSD was definitely part of Levey many demons. He was very troubled, damaged and not willing to listen to anyone but himself. Sad story but true, real very raw😐

Chadwick and Viola along with the rest of the cast BLEW IT OUT OF THE WATER!👏👏👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍👍. BEST MOVIE OF NETFLIX'S 2020 YEAR!

Chad wick give the best best performance of his life miss you legend

The ending is sad and still goes on today.. A black man killing another black man instead of the white man that did him dirty.

That scene at 4:23 was something that stood out for me. Chadwick wasn’t just doing the scene as written. He was living the scene both on and off the screen.

This movie had far deeper meaning than this weak narrative offers.

The entire film was a masterpiece. So many emotions felt in one movie.

Chadwick has the best performances ever 😭 We miss you king!

Crazy to think this was Chadwicks last movie

I'm not even goin hold u i shed a tear or 2 watching the proformance Chadwick Boseman gave as his last performance too smdh the part of him yelling at God gave me chills 💯

In Loveing Memory of Ma Rainey💕🕊 (1886-1939) Momma of Blues!

Another point ... its symbolic of the black community as a whole. The differences of the black woman and the black man.... the black man has the talent and know how to succeed, but not the level headedness of the black woman. And are often seen as child like and incapable of handling business. Black men end up in jail, losing out on life because of emotional decisions. Black women who end up in leadership roles, are seen as hard, emotionless, but "strong" and resilient. Black women understand the great need to be cunning, strategic, while moving in between black and white spaces.

Reading the comments everyone is entitled to their opinion, now all the criticism about this movie not being more detailed about Ma Rainey’s Life.... this film is based on the PLAY and in this play it’s exactly what you’re seeing in the film. Take the time and read about the play and then you’re understand why the film is like it is. THANK YOU.......

I knew Levee was dangerous after he had that fight with Cutler. And his disdain and profanity towards God made me cringe..very uncomfortable to even hear someone speak. They say CHadwick broke down and cried after the production because it took a lot to speak that way to and about God....and even more so....when you don't really feel that way about God. From a viewer's point, Nobody could have guessed that he was also fighting a battle with cancer throughout this performance. If ANYBODY deserves the Oscar, Chadwick does. And so does Viola Davis.

I’ll be honest. I expected this to be a shallow analysis and it was. You brushed over Levee’s trauma, rage, powerlessness and humiliation. That’s the context in which he stabbed Toledo. Those things are integral to the soul of his character and deserved a better analysis. Levee wasn’t just arrogance and ambition gone awry as you described him. He was a broken black man.

What I think is missed by some of you making is that this is adapted from August Wilson's play!! It's not per se a movie about Ma Rainey herself ( which I would love to see by the way) A lot of play are shorter than movies and usually center around 1 or 2 scenes or places.

A lot of persons in the comments are missing a main point, yes Levee was robbed and cheated, but he didn't have to kill anyone Toledo or the white man. What Cutler says sums it up for me "A fool is responsible for what happened to him. A fool caused it to happen."

Y’all do know this was a play, right? An award winning play that is just now being made into a movie. Great job August Wilson, Excellent adaptation George C. Wolfe

Must watch. Wakanda forever!! One last bow, one last breath taking chills of Chadwick's final performance, will truly send emotional shivers down your spine. You can feel the intense emotion in his character, Levee. You're immediately hooked to his character, charm, upbeat "I want it, I want know" attitude. I felt his emotional performance, during a scene where his character Levee, shares the horrors that he witnessed as a child. Meanwhile here comes the force of nature, Viola Davis as The Mother of Blues herself, Ma Rainey. I can honestly say I never seen such a magnificent well executed performance delivered like this before. Now don't get me wrong, Viola Davis is one of the many talented actors, on stage, and on screen. Yet I never heard her sing before, so I was blown away by the voice the soul the emotion, the way Viola/Rainey demanded respect. Truly an outstanding performance. #ViolaDavis #chadwickboseman #netflix #MaRaineysBlackBottom

This was an interesting story, it really spelled out a brutal reality of intraracial relations. Blacks realize that if they are to advance in western society, that we must curry the favor of the dominant (white) culture. However, our blackness is an obstacle in that pursuit, so when we fail to advance because of our race, we begin to resent it, and that resentment becomes hatred, of ourselves and others like us. Having said that, Levee doesn’t resent Ma Rainey for her chastisements, she is a stepping stone, in his view, and not an impediment to where he wants to be in life. In fact, she is most likely something of an inspiration, as Levee constantly compares the way Ma does things to the way he thinks they would be done. Levee admires Ma, wants what Ma has (Dussie Mae) but ultimately seeks to surpass her. Whereas Toledo, although he represents no threat to Levee’s ambition, is a hostile adversary in the abstract. Old, and contented in his unremarkable life, Toledo and the other band members are what Levee fears to become and he hates them for reminding him that they are his reflection. It all comes to a head when Levee fails to negotiate a deal with the producer, that was the moment when the self-loathing boiled over, although Levee would never have attacked the white man who shunned him because that man still represents hope and the key to all of his worldly aspirations, whereas Toledo is the embodiment of everything Levee sees as what’s holding him back, the cause of his stagnation. At that moment that Levee kills Toledo, he feels relief and his first response is to ask for understanding from the witnesses rather than express any sense of remorse.

Chadwick always gave great performances but man, he was exceptional in this one. Stole every scene he was in. Rest In Peace King 👑

Before anyone says it made no sense and we wanted to see more of Ma and its should have been her movie. Let me remind you. The title is "Ma Rainey's Black bottom" meaning utd the process or events that happened when they were making the song. Its not about Ma its the events that took place at that specific point in time and if you cant understand that then🤷‍♂️ Yes i know Levee isnt real but he brings meaningful things to the story so even if he wasn't real he was relevant

Some films are subjective, everybody has their own interpretation or opinion. My interpretation was this is what so-called black on black crime looks like. He wanted to slide that knife into that producer but he knew that if he did he would most likely be killed by the justice system. So he put the knife into somebody who he knew he would not get murdered for doing it. The black lives matter movement was not only talkin to white people it was also talking to us

People it was just a part of a studio session, not her entire life. I found it amazing and a snippet of how they stole from her! That’s how they treated black folk back in the day! She was robbed and obviously, most of you are clueless to acting perfection!

Bruhhhh this movie is sickkk idc it's one of the best movies of 2020

The last scene between Levi and Toledo really hit hard for me. I know personally and have heard of many a black men that were killed as a result of an argument that broke out due to someone stepping on anothers shoe. These men are often hyper masculine, and misplace their agression onto each other as a means to maintain a sense of power in a society that systematically hampers, undermines, and stops them from reaching their highest potential, goals and ambitions for no other reason than the colour of their skin. Toledo had enough talent to eventually make something of himself but his post traumatic stress (as a result of a racist attack), impatience and wrecklesness, meant that he was unable to better calculate his steps in order to obtain power such as: Never outshine the master, Speak less than is necessary, Make yourself indesposable. The studio bosses for me represented society, and the system that will con, steal, get rich and benefit from black talent and culture (since they often control the network of resources), as well as the ripple effect of their mistreatment. Ma Rainey is mentally fatigued by having to constantly keep her wits about her, yet she understands the system, is savvy and premeditates the steps of the studio bosses. I once worked for a company that sold electrical goods. One day my manager came in and relayed to me that one of his account holders had kept him waiting over 2 hours for an arranged meeting. She happened to be an African lady, and when he called to remind her of the meeting she replied that she was in bed with her husband, he had interrupted them, and he would see her when he saw her, before slamming the phone down. My manager who I always sensed was racist, was very cocky, and so when I asked if he would continue doing business with her? he responded that she spent a lot of money, and he couldn't afford to loose her account. I still chuckle about that to this days as I'm sure she could sense his true character, knew full well why he kissed her ass, and made it known how insignificant he was to her. Now that's power 😅👸🏿

This movie needed no explanation. Oscars for the whole cast and directors.🏆🏆🏆

Soooo did Levee get arrested for killing his band member or what?? I wish the movie was longer... I love old time black movies like this... Denzel did a good job though overall...

I don’t understand how a white man is explaining the black experience of the 1930’s. And as usual he missing the point. The point Sir is what we today would call trauma. Levee has been dealing with trauma all his life. When Toledo steps on his shoes, he was already angry, he was watching his hopes and dreams go down the drain. All the trauma, all the anger was building. And then for another white man to take his pride and dismiss him? There was no way it wasn’t going to end violently.

Definitely didn’t need an explanation. This was as clear as day.

I cried so hard. Beautiful tragedy. Phenomenal performances.

I started Crying At the end for 2 reasons It’s was Chadwick Boseman Last Movie & Bro Really Gone & Toledo That poor old man 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Excellent Movie ❤️❤️❤️❤️💯💯💯💯😢😭😢

The ending left me wanting more and also reminded me of how a few years ago children were having their Nike shoes stolen and they were beaten up for them. Shoes were a status symbol. Just sad 😢 Plus he lost his hopes, his job, and was over powered with disappointment and anger.

I just came here to see if they got it correct. Even after listening and then reading the comments, it's disheartening, the lack of cultural knowledge. The explanation will suffice. Not everything has to be a movie. You wouldn't be satisfied cause there wouldn't be enough time to tell her story. This should be a catalyst to read Mr. Wilson's plays and do research on Ma Rainey herself and those in that time period, as well as, what life was like for our ancestors. When I learned of Bessie Smith I went out and bought an album (many years ago) still have it. I researched her life and what she went through way before Queen Latifah (she was still rapping). Every actor in this adaption was excellent. Glen Turman revised his role in the play. Mr. Wilson is well known for his depictions of the "Black Experience" in America. Get into it.

Loved the movie, I wish they showed more of Ma and I did wish it was longer. I understand that it was only to watch one studio session but I wanna know more. I won't lie, if there's ever a series (hopefully with the same characters), I WOULD LOVE THAT.

He did say excuse me! Dang that was my favorite character 😓

Movie: Has a straightforward ending UKposts channel: Posts 10-minute video explaining the ending

This movie was god damn brilliant.

Wow I didn’t even pay attention to the fact he stabbed him in the BACK. I understood the part of how we hurt/ “ kill” eachother instead of the real enemy but didn’t even see how intentional the back part was

It was so soothing to hear Chadwick Boseman sing "...My Jelly Roll....🎶" 🙏💙

AND YET WE STILL SEE , FEEL AND GO THROUGH THESE SAME STRUGGLES IN THE 21ST CENTURY WITH NEW FACES SAME TACTICS ! 😷

It's a filmed version of an August Wilson play; when they make a movie of a play, they don't (ever; well, rarely) deviate from the material in the play. Their only purpose (filmed plays) is to reach all the people in cities where the play wasn't shown (and/or people who couldn't afford the tickets). "The play is part of August Wilson's 'Pittsburgh Cycle', ten plays, nine of which are set in Pittsburgh's Hill District (the other's set in Chicago), a Black neighborhood that takes on a mythic literary significance; the plays are each set in a different decade, & aim to sketch the Black experience in the 20th century and "raise consciousness through theater", and echo "the poetry in the everyday language of black America". The whole 10-play cycle has been produced at Chicago's Goodman Theatre (1986 - 2007), Denver Center Theatre Company (1990 - 2009), Geva Theatre Center (2007 - 2011), Huntington Theatre Company of Boston, Pittsburgh Public Theater, The Actors' Group, in Honolulu, Hawaii (2004 - 2015), The Black Rep in St. Louis, and the Anthony Theater in New Orleans.

Extremely interesting and informative. Love music history. Watching this!!!

Nobody knew he was dealing with colon cancer at the time such a amazing human style grace class and dignity

What I also find unfortunately, is that the white culture finds a black man more threatening than a black woman. They record Ma Rainey’s songs, but the white producers won’t record Levee arrangements. Even Elvis got famous singing songs by black artists. Levee knows that success as a black man is even more difficult, and the door he can’t open at the studio is blocked for a reason. His father was successful and paid the ultimate price for his success. Black Wall Street was burned to the ground during this period, which is shameful.

A lot of the writing is such poetry! It’s hard to find film these days where Dialogue is more heavy. Most film these days have medium or small shorts of dialogue.

So many life lessons in this quick movie. We sat there at the end like OMG

I just got done watching the movie and I was a little disappointed. I wanted to see more of Ma. I wanted to know why the people at the hotel looked at her strange. Was it because she was openly bi? It focused more on the Levee character than her. What happened with the song was very predictable. If he had no use for the songs, why would he offer to pay him? We know he was giving them to white musicians. I hope we get a movie that is actually about Ma Rainey.

August Wilson was a brilliant man!

She knew that man was a crook but that was the way she had to make a living. So he made thousands from her records paying hundreds. And stole music paid 5$, and made thousands. There are so many aspects to this movie. I loved it.

Coome thrroouugh with the comments ❤️ I love every single one!! But yes, iknow it’s based from a play, but i think we agree it deserves more! I would love to see a biographical drama about Ma Rainey!

Ma Rainey music on UKposts - "Deep Moanin' ", "Prove It On Me", "Oh My", "Titanic Man", "Sweet, Rough Man", "Slow Drivin' Moan", "All Night Long", "Easy Rider", "Rough and Tumble", "Last Minute", "Sleep Talkin' ", "Down In The Basement", "Trust No Man", "Don't Fish In My Sea", "Black Eye Blues", "Farewell Daddy", "Night Time Blues", "Shave 'Em Dry", "Cellbound Blues", "Sissy Blues", "Army Camp Blues", "Hustlin' Blues", "Dead Drunk Blues", "Moonshine Blues", "Booze and Blues", "Mountain Jack", "Hellish Rag", "Daddy, Goodbye", "Call Me Anything, But Call Me", "Honey, Where You Been So Long", "SeeSee Rider", "Chain Gang Blues", "Stagga Lee",...

Just watched the movie today really enjoyed it great performances

The hardware needs to be flying. Everyone was terrific in this movie.

Ma Rainey is much about the talent of August Wilson. It's a play put to screen. Like Toni Morrison's work it speaks to the Black experience in America. It presents how it affects us and how we handle that experience. Do we approach those who oppress or keep it internal until we let it out against each other? All based around how we have expressed this oppression, the Blues. Excellent presentation. I agree you were placed inside.

Chadwick was genuinely Oscar-worthy good in this film. I see a nomination in the near future, just watch

3:34 Now I know the origin of violence in the club when someone steps on a fresh pair of Timberland 🥾

Thanks for breaking it down . Mades more since some parts in the movie . I enjoyed watching it. I like to see actions and things from yrs ago history I am 66 yrs old .

This was a brilliant explanation. I didn't quite get the room behind the door, but I knew it was symbolic to Levee's downfall.

Levee was also the new younger black people in the 20's moving to cities that wanted success immediately ....

I love this thank you for sharing Netflix

If Chadwick doesn't win an Oscar, I'll never watch the Academy Awards again. His performance was fucking Top Tier 🔥

Very well explained.❤

Give Chadwick his Oscar

If Viola doesn’t get a Oscar I know something she played Ma Rainey with pure excellence. When we are like this today they call us angry and bitter because I wont let you run over me. It is hot up in here can I get a fan and some Coca Cola LOL!!! Forget I buy my own!! See when you learn the way people are being treated you desire the same but because of what you look like people call you difficult for asking for what you deserve. I cant wait to see what Monique sees in the film.

i need to watch this again

Hollywood's versions are never very close to what really happened.

Chadwick should've played as Sam Cooke too.

Awesome job of analyzing think we're taking the story of us

Powerful performances I cryed at the end

I'm watching this movie again I love it

If you are Black you already understand the ending ✊🏽✊🏾

He killed Toledo because he was being passive aggressive

After Levee's story of knowing how to handle the European, he totally fails to do it.

Great movie, certainly need a Part 2 because that was a cliffhanger

I like when Levy says he hasn't had anything but bad luck.

Damn did you have to show the stabbing more than once. Ouch.

This movie seem to be more about Levey than Ma

🗣WE KNOW ITS THE PLAY! It didn’t transfer well over to film like Fences. The acting was outstanding I’m sure it’s much better seen on stage.

Thanks for the speech-bot-splaining, I would like to get ten minutes of my life back.

This was a good movie

We really don’t need a white voice narrating the very things we’re still going through today. We just want our dreams to be fulfilled.

No explanation needed as far as I am concerned but for those “ young ones” 🤔.

*NOT ENOUGH!!!* I was left unsatisfied and still have so many unanswered questions. Who was she? *WHO was Ma Rainey?* Did y'all know she was the 2nd born of 5 children and was married by age 18? What was her childhood like? Who were her parents? How did she start singing? Did she ever have children? How was she discovered and where did she meet her husband? Also...Why every black woman who is portrayed strong got to be shown as a lesbian but in reality was not? They even did it in Bessie including with Madame CJ Walker *sigh* I wanted all the truth and nothing but that and although it was real I did research and Levee turned out not to be a real person just someone's story. And that someone is important, God rest his soul yet, the movie is named Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Netflix took majority of Ma Rainey out of her own Film (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) like wth👀

I loved it....

It was an annoying movie, all that time wasted having to watch the boys in the band argue it up, when we could've been watching Ma sing. She's the one who made history and is a legend.

This movie was beautifully well done. The anger I felt for the ending with the all white band covering his song.

Sorry, I was expecting more...And this review is dumb, we can clearly see what is explained here..I think we were looking for a movie about Ma Rainey or at least I was

8:20 “he seems to be unaffected by it” what do you mean? He acted unaffected in front of them then went downstairs and looked regretful. Surely another factor in his final actions

Haunting.

Ye I didn't like when chad killed toledo .its like he turned his anger out on him

The closing point that Levee’s as important to the story as Ma is pretty obvious He’s the main character with way more screentime and lines than her

It’s Like The Willie Lynch Letter The Young Nîgga vs The Old Nigga 💯 they Pitt them against each other