Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has won two Academy Awards for costume design and make up and hairstyling. The movie, about the sidelining of Af...
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has won two Academy Awards for costume design and make up and hairstyling. The movie, about the sidelining of African American musical traditions, made history with both its wins.
At 91, Ann Roth is the oldest costume designer to win an Oscar. Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson emerged as the first African American women to win the Oscar for hair and makeup. They shared the Oscar with Sergio Lopez-Rivera.
Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman earned nominations in the lead actor categories. The Netflix release is dedicated to Boseman, who died from cancer on August 28, 2020.
George C Wolfe’s film is adapted from August Wilson’s stage musical and is based on blues singer Ma Rainey. Among the themes in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the nature of creation and collaboration and the appropriation of Black musical talent by White producers and record labels.
The main event is a recording session with Ma Rainey (Davis) and her band in 1927. Among the musicians is young trumpeter Levee Green (Boseman), who wants to make his own music and riles his band mates with his cockiness.
The supporting cast includes Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and Michael Potts as members of Ma Rainey’s band.
A diva to the hilt, Ma Rainey turns up late...
