87
Metascore
46 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100BBCCaryn JamesBBCCaryn JamesThe film takes place largely in two down and dirty rooms, the recording studio and a basement where the band rehearses, but it doesn’t feel stage bound. Wolfe finds the right balance between letting Wilson’s trademark monologues flow and shooting them in a cinematic way that keeps the film moving.
- 91The A.V. ClubShannon MillerThe A.V. ClubShannon MillerIt’s important to note that there would not even be a show to admire without the trailblazing career of Ma Rainey, which Davis recognizes and honors with her otherworldly portrayal. Still, this is undoubtedly Boseman’s show and will likely live on as his greatest work.
- 88USA TodayBrian TruittUSA TodayBrian TruittRollicking and heartbreaking in equal measure, the period musical drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom plays all the right notes, from Viola Davis mightily singing the blues to a brilliant, shattering final performance from the late Chadwick Boseman.
- 88RogerEbert.comOdie HendersonRogerEbert.comOdie HendersonBoseman never gave less than one hundred percent to his often demanding roles. His work here as the trumpet player, Levee, is no exception. It’s no stretch to say his last performance may be his finest.
- 85TheWrapAlonso DuraldeTheWrapAlonso DuraldeEven if this version never shakes off its stage roots, it does act as a stately jewel box that houses an extraordinary ensemble of performances.
- 80The GuardianPeter BradshawThe GuardianPeter BradshawThis is Boseman’s final performance on screen, and what a glorious performance to go out on. It is a head-butting confrontation of the galácticos: Davis and Boseman are each the immovable object and irresistible force.
- 75IndieWireEric KohnIndieWireEric KohnAn actor’s showcase for Viola Davis as the show-stopping singer and the late Chadwick Boseman as the scheming trumpeter angling to steal her spotlight, director George C. Wolfe’s reverential adaptation livens up the material with sizzling color and vivid closeups. Save for a few digressions, however, Wolfe and screenwriter Ruben Santiago-Hudson have put the play into the movie, rather than vice versa.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyLeah GreenblattEntertainment WeeklyLeah GreenblattIf Davis hadn't already taken home Oscar gold so recently, she'd almost certainly claim another prize here for the raw transformative verve of her performance; it's more than possible she still might. It's Boseman, though, in his final appearance on screen, who makes both the bitter and the sweet of the story sing: a pointed arrow of hurt and hope and untapped fury, heartbreakingly alive in every scene.
- 70UproxxMike RyanUproxxMike RyanBoseman is just so alive in this movie. This is not an “understated” performance. It’s like watching an athlete give it all on the field and we are left there wondering how this man isn’t just completely exhausted. Yeah, turns out Boseman did have one last gift for us. And, my gosh, he didn’t disappoint. He’s pure dynamite. It’s devastating.