Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

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.
Country: USA
Directed By: George C. Wolfe
Written By: Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson
Starring: Viola Davis, Glynn Turman, Michael Potts, Jonny Coyne, Colman Domingo, Chadwick Boseman, Dusan Brown, Taylour Paige, Jeremy Shamos

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Ma Rainey's Black Bottom belongs to 6 collections
1. Academy Award - Oscar - ALL Best Picture, Directing, Acting & Screenplay Nominees (public - 23 stars)
2. 2021 Academy Awards: Nominated Feature Films (public: moderated by joel-w-m - 2 stars)
3. Netflix Sverige (public: moderated by Jakobostgren - 1 star)
4. 78th Golden Globe Awards: Nominated (2021) ☐ (public: moderated by 5Z5qjRCfM2)
5. Dämon 2020 (private: caffe)
6. 2021 Oscar (private: Giskard)
Browse the full list of collections
Date | User | Rating | |
Apr 19 | Sadman | 65 20% |
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So theatrical that the only thing that can break through the histrionics is Boseman playing as if he has the devil on his heels. It's a shame he gave it his all to something that rings so false. At any moment you can could have turned the camera around and I wouldn't have been shocked to an audience. To the credit of the actors and August Wilson, it made me interested in seeing one of Wilson's plays on the stage.
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Apr 19 | Rafael Reis | 60 9% |
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Apr 19 | ![]() |
FrancoGonzo | 8 33% |
Apr 19 | ![]() |
psim | 69 25% |
This feels very much like a filmed version of the kind of play I would have had to read in school and hated for that reason alone, regardless of its actual quality. I don't think this made me care for its characters enough to earn its ending, but it had its share of strong moments.
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Apr 19 | seantaylxr | 66 41% |
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Apr 14 | sabito | 30 23% |
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Apr 13 | ![]() |
War Machine | 62 24% |
Georgie1927+continued/repetitivedramaseemsforcedbutwellactedbyC/V+stutter+seemslikemymom'sdreamlol+wouldntbuysongssokilledguysteppedonshoe
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Apr 13 | ![]() |
bobyang | 60 29% |
Apr 12 | gecko | 74 25% |
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Apr 11 | ![]() |
lionesque | 35 24% |
Apr 11 | Faksi | 70 34% |
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Apr 11 | swordfern | 92 62% |
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Apr 11 | ![]() |
hristos | 60 43% |
Apr 10 | microplast | 60 20% |
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Apr 10 | ![]() |
cankutozturk | 72 23% |
Apr 10 | mamaska | 72 51% |
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Apr 09 | ![]() |
P u l p | 24 10% |
There are bad intentions behind this trash movie.
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Apr 09 | ![]() |
nforvendetta | 72 80% |
Apr 07 | ![]() |
Leonardis | 87 57% |
Boseman really does five his all here, and Davis (while not in as much as the movie as I had hoped) is unrecognizable she’s so good. Also loved Domingo and the rest of the cast as well. I feel like the actual stage play had a lot more to say than what’s been portrayed here. It seems some themes and plot points are touched on but never fully realized. There’s also this side character that didn’t really add much to the plot. Still, it has incredible dialogue and it’s really well made.
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Apr 07 | ![]() |
oguzhnakkaya | 60 37% |
Apr 06 | CiEmPank | 66 42% |
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Атмосфера - 2 Нарратив - 1 Сценарий - 2 Сюжет - 1 Саундтрек - 2 Актерская игра - 3 Эмоции - 1 Синематографи - 2 Визуал - 3 Флоу - 1 Звук - 2 Выполнение своей цели - 1 Продакшн дизайн - 3 Костюмы - 3 Монтаж - 2 Целостность - 2 Субъективно - 2 Сцена - 1
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Apr 05 | ![]() |
muutanet | 72 68% |
As soon as Viola Davis stepped in the story started to shape in. I liked the stuck door idea.
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Apr 05 | Teacher | 34 4% |
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Apr 05 | boysanilar | 77 50% |
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Apr 04 | Blondone86 | 72 66% |
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Apr 04 | ![]() |
sacmersault | 79 78% |
Apr 03 | ![]() |
1903 | 55 24% |
Apr 03 | ![]() |
Darren | 30 9% |
This is what theatre kids want acting to be
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Apr 03 | ![]() |
karlson | 40 6% |
Apr 03 | ![]() |
gbastos | 75 80% |
Apr 02 | bidola | 70 17% |
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Apr 02 | Spaceman | 76 46% |
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Apr 01 | ![]() |
Seethruskin | 2 12% |
Apr 01 | ![]() |
Soixist | 68 27% |
Meh
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Apr 01 | cayh | 80 72% |
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Mar 31 | ![]() |
PaulB1 | 60 21% |
Mar 29 | ![]() |
monclaro | 70 65% |
Mar 29 | ![]() |
lucas1092 | 70 28% |
Mar 29 | bestauntie | 72 23% |
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Mar 28 | ![]() |
cambel | 58 31% |
Mar 28 | ![]() |
Sachaz | 73 69% |
Mar 28 | ![]() |
sirphibes | 66 48% |
Mar 27 | PlasticSoul | 32 7% |
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Mar 27 | rydmcalboy | 79 43% |
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Mar 26 | ![]() |
noiz | 68 62% |
Mar 26 | ![]() |
Pats_London | 76 42% |
Mar 26 | ![]() |
Cebion | 75 48% |
Mar 26 | anial | 73 45% |
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Mar 25 | erkanprens | 68 37% |
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Mar 25 | ![]() |
tarrou | 70 41% |
Mar 24 | ![]() |
lunarstyle | 73 13% |
Mar 24 | ![]() |
talat | 60 21% |
Mar 24 | ![]() |
Gnalkthere | 70 32% |
Chadwick's got it in the bag huh :/
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Mar 22 | ![]() |
flowing | 46 33% |
Mar 22 | danialinho | 63 55% |
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Mar 21 | pier | 68 19% |
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Mar 21 | ![]() |
Orfonso | 77 66% |
Mar 21 | ![]() |
jemenfous | 60 21% |
Mar 21 | ![]() |
ibodirector | 60 39% |
Mar 21 | amir725 | 74 19% |
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Mar 21 | ![]() |
Schmalzbroud | 55 37% |
Mar 21 | ![]() |
kk3thess | 45 16% |
Mar 20 | freyr_rabbit | 60 13% |
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Mar 20 | ![]() |
Caneruslan | 60 12% |
Mar 20 | ![]() |
Pietayse | 60 28% |
Mar 20 | ![]() |
Kerfoot32 | 49 66% |
Mar 19 | REH | 30 2% |
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Mar 19 | hugechin99 | 79 45% |
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Mar 19 | leemarvins | 50 27% |
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Glynn Turman is the MVP of this play turned "film". Solid performances with dull directing that could have tried to make the talky bits more cinematic. Talking isn't cinematic but drama is. This could have been accomplished with better blocking, using shot size to indicate drama and judicious use of close-ups. Here everything is mostly in over-the-shoulder and close-ups so that everything is equally highly important. That makes for a mediocre film with good performances.
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Mar 19 | chiphall72 | 77 70% |
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Mar 19 | ![]() |
mistephane | 75 72% |
Mar 19 | f_ranzen | 43 19% |
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Mar 19 | Tan Solo | 60 31% |
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Mar 18 | ![]() |
YMS (Adum) | 60 49% |
Mar 18 | ![]() |
schnofel | 67 66% |
The handsome production design and the "Zeiss Supreme Prime Lenses" mitigate the staginess; though they may not transcend the performed monologues and the forced, jocular interplay between seasoned actors, they give you something to look at. Like black bottoms - there is (among other fast-moving exchanges) a well-directed sex scene here. Recommended for the recording sessions, less so for the protestations about racism: we know, and Boseman's character arc doesn't prove any point worth knowing.
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Mar 17 | Cinemafan89 | 65 28% |
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Mar 17 | ![]() |
patrickped | 20 6% |
Mar 17 | ![]() |
Nathan | 75 66% |
Mar 16 | ![]() |
skatt | 70 72% |
Mar 16 | ![]() |
Carlospro | 60 16% |
Mar 15 | ![]() |
Cloudynow | 69 47% |
Mar 14 | jwortel | 75 66% |
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Mar 14 | ltremaine | 70 69% |
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Mar 08 | expertocred | 60 21% |
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Mar 08 | ![]() |
ece noren | 80 39% |
Mar 06 | ![]() |
Marvinpa | 72 58% |
Mar 06 | ![]() |
egehany | 76 47% |
Mar 06 | Geniasis | 83 43% |
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Mar 04 | ![]() |
Hisingen | 75 66% |
Mar 04 | ![]() |
tsumanne | 32 12% |
Mar 03 | xibalba0 | 60 12% |
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Mar 03 | Tars3 | 55 17% |
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Mar 03 | ![]() |
Fergenaprido | 76 63% |
Mar 01 | blucthulhu | 70 58% |
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Feb 26 | chrispy294 | 2 4% |
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Feb 25 | whatisitisee | 70 46% |
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Feb 23 | ![]() |
KasperL | 50 30% |
Oscar bait.
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Feb 23 | ![]() |
witzelsucht | 7 40% |
Feb 21 | dsturek | 70 25% |
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Feb 20 | madmaxzags | 49 38% |
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Feb 19 | goodedward | 62 41% |
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Feb 17 | ![]() |
SpaceSpiff | 93 76% |
Feb 16 | ![]() |
sellos | 70 47% |
Feb 16 | ![]() |
mr scofield | 76 49% |
Feb 16 | ![]() |
inmate | 65 19% |
Feb 15 | inzzzomnia | 2 17% |
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Feb 14 | ![]() |
Phelipe | 51 22% |
Feb 11 | ![]() |
whitelighter | 63 49% |
Feb 11 | ![]() |
Cooper | 65 30% |
Feb 11 | ![]() |
okayfrog | 60 42% |
Feb 10 | ![]() |
SeanBerndorff | 60 40% |
Feb 09 | ![]() |
Tiago Vieira | 65 30% |
Feb 09 | ![]() |
MetaCritic2 | 87 95% |
Feb 09 | ![]() |
DonKhan | 7 57% |
Feb 09 | Lembie | 83 52% |
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Feb 09 | ![]() |
ElsaH | 80 27% |
Feb 08 | ![]() |
lebnof | 70 79% |
Feb 07 | thehutt | 69 43% |
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Feb 07 | rwhirata | 40 31% |
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Feb 07 | Nathers7 | 5 22% |
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Feb 06 | ![]() |
cascade | 65 52% |
Feb 06 | ![]() |
w1llhunt1ng | 90 46% |
Feb 06 | Ajayw | 58 20% |
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With such an intriguing lead, the movie is lost by focusing too much on the band. It's not a surprise that this is a stage to screen adaptation, as the setting is too confined and the drama too contrived. Boseman is very good at times, but Ma is the only compelling character and it feels like she is only sprinkled in rather than being the star. Viola Davis is excellent, as usual.
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Feb 05 | ![]() |
umutheatre | 32 1% |
Feb 04 | ![]() |
PietHeijn | 62 66% |
Sure it suffers from the drawbacks of being essentially a filmed play, but this also increases the sweaty claustrophobic tension of the setting and characters. Good performances across the board, especially from Chadwick & Viola. That said, it never reaches greatness.
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Feb 04 | ![]() |
Kurtz | 63 60% |
Feb 03 | Izothorp | 55 20% |
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Feb 03 | ![]() |
do*rothy | 95 0% |
Feb 03 | PrestoBix40 | 28 71% |
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Feb 03 | nixols | 50 10% |
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Feb 02 | ![]() |
moraesfelipe | 45 24% |
Sad to watch such a poignant text being turned into an Oscar bait show -- or, in most days, "prestige" TV. Of course the cast is awesome, specially Boseman, but it's the typical case where there's such little effort in flying above your average, awards-obsessed chamber piece that I will likely forget it in a few hours.
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Feb 02 | ![]() |
Ametrine | 6 33% |
Feb 01 | ![]() |
sehrbei | 75 27% |
Feb 01 | ![]() |
VegA | 43 15% |
Feb 01 | ![]() |
_sem | 79 20% |
Jan 31 | ![]() |
lucasodiniz | 70 39% |
Jan 31 | brennanc | 11 30% |
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Jan 31 | brooksoh | 89 67% |
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Jan 29 | ![]() |
constantine | 70 40% |
Jan 29 | ![]() |
norval_jones | 82 77% |
Jan 28 | wimcalp | 40 14% |
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Jan 26 | crmassari | 40 19% |
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Jan 25 | juandr | 94 83% |
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Jan 25 | opensecret | 70 64% |
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Jan 24 | ![]() |
Alan_Laidlaw | 75 53% |
Jan 24 | ![]() |
Jasongirl67 | 50 31% |
A lotta talking But if you can get past that It’s Sorta interesting hearing them speak on different perspectives of the “Black Experience “
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Jan 23 | ![]() |
abasakucan | 65 34% |
Jan 21 | emilija114 | 74 42% |
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Jan 21 | ![]() |
glumpy_99 | 77 47% |
A first-rate actor's piece (and this cast and material would be electric on stage), but Wolfe struggles to combat the heavy, oppressive atmosphere - there's a point when you want to escape the seedy, ugly confines, which may be the point but it makes for a tough viewing experience. Davis and Boseman are obviously the MVPs (Davis' sweaty, earthy evocation of Rainey is unlike anything she's done before), but Turman quietly steals every scene he's in as the battle scarred "elder statesman".
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Jan 19 | gorrk | 84 68% |
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Jan 19 | ![]() |
FreddieQuell | 84 81% |
Jan 19 | ![]() |
RTAudience | 78 66% |
Jan 18 | ![]() |
semitozge | 59 26% |
Jan 18 | ![]() |
RealMacgyver | 80 77% |
Jan 18 | Edsep | 60 9% |
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Jan 17 | Noel74 | 84 41% |
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Jan 17 | ![]() |
brkshn | 55 25% |
Jan 16 | ![]() |
Duder | 70 75% |
This was a tour de force of performances from almost all the cast, but especially Boseman and Davis.. The director doesn't get in the way of the cast and just lets them shine with subtle work and brings it out even more. It's obvious with some of the cuts that a lot has been improvised and it is done well. A great (and sad) send off for Boseman.
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Jan 16 | ![]() |
serenadsiir | 60 11% |
Jan 16 | ![]() |
asperastrum () | 74 50% |
Jan 16 | ![]() |
matthewmj336 | 73 22% |
Jan 15 | ![]() |
batkojohny | 72 70% |
Jan 15 | ![]() |
coolcoolcool | 76 42% |
Jan 15 | Ram0n | 70 36% |
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Jan 15 | testaccount5 | 4 14% |
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Jan 14 | AchwellFoley | 37 18% |
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Jan 14 | electric | 50 10% |
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Jan 14 | jyborg28 | 70 17% |
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Jan 14 | ![]() |
capodelnulla | 55 31% |
this is more of a netflix content than a film. a great story, a competent screenplay and solid performances are messed up by uneven and boring direction, and subpar editing.
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Jan 13 | ![]() |
NhanLa | 73 67% |
Jan 12 | ![]() |
rklenseth | 80 80% |
Jan 12 | Crys2002 | 95 86% |
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Jan 10 | bones_r | 70 55% |
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Jan 10 | ![]() |
Kavu | 79 66% |
Boseman and Davis are excellent, and the story flows well. Enjoyable.
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Jan 10 | Vilputti | 75 67% |
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Jan 10 | strangelime | 60 13% |
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Jan 10 | hellothere | 55 18% |
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Jan 09 | ![]() |
El99can | 69 41% |
Jan 08 | ![]() |
aalp | 4 30% |
Jan 08 | ![]() |
AnnieHall | 60 20% |
Jan 08 | tcclemson | 75 49% |
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Jan 08 | CesarCastag (CinePlayers.com) | 40 19% |
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Jan 08 | ![]() |
jmsenise | 70 42% |
Jan 07 | ![]() |
sebby | 50 27% |
Jan 07 | ![]() |
Hofschneider | 75 46% |
Jan 06 | TheStraub | 81 84% |
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Jan 06 | ![]() |
joeroxy | 70 49% |
Jan 06 | ![]() |
CinematicESP | 74 27% |
Jan 05 | ANastase | 85 56% |
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Jan 05 | ![]() |
fenixdown | 80 74% |
Jan 05 | ![]() |
balseiros | 85 81% |
Jan 04 | ![]() |
ADragon91 | 55 39% |
Jan 04 | ![]() |
weirdyoda | 76 45% |
Jan 04 | ivanfreire | 20 10% |
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Jan 04 | fdrdidnada | 81 67% |
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Jan 03 | nlacasse | 80 35% |
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Jan 03 | dzacharyt | 10 5% |
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Jan 03 | CatScandal | 47 14% |
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Jan 03 | invention | 2 20% |
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Jan 02 | ![]() |
selinozcelik | 65 19% |
Jan 02 | ![]() |
annie | 50 33% |
Jan 02 | filmcave | 66 24% |
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Jan 02 | Kobi | 84 57% |
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Jan 01 | ![]() |
emreco | 70 56% |
Jan 01 | ![]() |
Corbad | 80 79% |
A perfectly plotted showcase of tremendous performances, just a little too theatrical to feel natural—though once the monologues start, their effects are undiminished by the stagey feel. Well paced and pleasingly packaged.
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Dec 31, 2020 | random22431 | 70 64% |
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Dec 31, 2020 | ![]() |
WWallce4prez | 68 41% |
I mean you either liked filmed plays or you don't. There is a lot to admire in the performances, especially that of the late Chadwick Boseman, but also the collection of character actors found in Ma's band. Viola Davis gives half of her performance through sweat and teeth and its great.
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Dec 31, 2020 | ![]() |
arrow-s | 74 63% |
Dec 31, 2020 | jjrocketman | 50 90% |
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Dec 30, 2020 | ![]() |
Mpython | 7 57% |
8-
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Dec 30, 2020 | ![]() |
EricDSnider2 | 88 83% |
Dec 30, 2020 | salopiantree | 59 12% |
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Dec 30, 2020 | ![]() |
Antunder | 65 54% |
Dec 30, 2020 | kissgyozi | 60 19% |
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Dec 30, 2020 | sfxy | 75 49% |
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Dec 30, 2020 | Kevin Ruffo | 83 56% |
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Dec 30, 2020 | ![]() |
Filligan | 87 68% |
This feels like Fences again, only with some thought given to its cinematic presentation. Overall, it still has that stagey feel (which I don’t always dislike—in fact just this year I really enjoyed The Boys in the Band), but the performances jolt it alive. Davis is remarkable but this is Boseman’s film. He delivers a curtain call not seen since Heath Ledger and I’d be overjoyed if he posthumously swept the season.
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Dec 30, 2020 | ![]() |
joel-w-m | 80 80% |
Retains the stage-y feel of its source material, but that's not a bad thing (the rapid dialogue jazzily bounces the film along at a great pace and the monologues simmer and explode from out of the cramped and sweaty setting) and it has powerful filmic touches too (see the poignant opening misdirection). Davis and Boseman give particularly powerful turns in this rich work (themes of past and future, art and ambition, race and power all bubble between the gut-punching compare/contrast bookends).
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Dec 29, 2020 | Atoz | 46 32% |
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Dec 29, 2020 | Meybn | 58 3% |
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Dec 29, 2020 | ![]() |
CStuckmann | 92 76% |
Dec 29, 2020 | ![]() |
zehra | 65 16% |
Dec 29, 2020 | ![]() |
numan | 76 66% |
Dec 29, 2020 | ![]() |
mehmetşerif | 80 41% |
Dec 29, 2020 | Colin19 | 84 51% |
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Dec 29, 2020 | LesterGroans | 76 66% |
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Dec 29, 2020 | wuigee | 70 46% |
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Dec 28, 2020 | ![]() |
feritdgn | 60 29% |
Dec 28, 2020 | ![]() |
muratkrks | 60 29% |
Dec 28, 2020 | ericambler | 80 76% |
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Dec 28, 2020 | ![]() |
TheRealJ-Ro | 85 84% |
A smoldering, frenetic firecracker of a movie (that rarely feels like a movie), moving at a breakneck pace even when it feels like nothing's happening. It's no shock to me that this originates as a stage play, and I'd love to see this performed on a stage. Mesmerizing, challenging performances from Boseman and Davis. I can't accurately describe how dirty I felt while watching the end sequence; proof positive that this movie had me hook, line, and sinker. I will desperately miss Chadwick Boseman.
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Dec 28, 2020 | ![]() |
PrestoBix | 86 75% |
Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
kadikoy | 65 61% |
Ma Rainey'in ünlü Mother Of The Blues albümünün, hazırlık aşaması anlatılmış. Ma Rainey'nin hayatını beklerken, Levey ile Ma arasındaki çatışmayı izliyoruz. Oyuncu performans filmi. Tek mekanda geçen film, beklediğimizin altında. Chadwick Boseman çok doğal ve naif. Viola Davis'de 1 blues tanrıçası. Egolu ve kibirli. Bazı sahnelerde sizi alıp başka yerlere götürüyor. Filmin sonunda, sarı ayakkabı. Ver Tavuğumu al horozumu.
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Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
avgcrtckr | 50 44% |
Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
filmaffinity | 58 39% |
Dec 27, 2020 | lrifkin | 15 7% |
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Dec 27, 2020 | BasedOne | 8 65% |
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Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
tahazerr | 40 26% |
Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
christof | 80 55% |
Dec 27, 2020 | cdub12 | 70 58% |
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Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
Charlie | 65 42% |
Dec 27, 2020 | ![]() |
uarrecep | 70 34% |
Dec 27, 2020 | JJJensen | 86 71% |
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Dec 27, 2020 | slaterman2 | 74 47% |
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Dec 27, 2020 | toro913 | 54 51% |
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Dec 26, 2020 | jecca06 | 80 36% |
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Dec 26, 2020 | Letterdief | 74 20% |
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Dec 26, 2020 | ![]() |
gulnur | 70 45% |
Dec 26, 2020 | ![]() |
ibrahimbars | 55 17% |
Dec 26, 2020 | ![]() |
EmreZabun3 | 60 26% |
Displaying 1 to 250 of 309 total ratings: Prev | Next
Average Percentile 43.04% from 310 Ratings | ![]() |