Tara Ariano May 13, 2015 Share May 13, 2015 Singer Bessie Smith (1894-1937) rises from humble roots in Tennessee to become "The Empress of the Blues" and one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s. Link to comment
Primetimer May 15, 2015 Share May 15, 2015 The HBO biopic is brilliantly funny, important, and flawed. Read the story 1 Link to comment
Constantinople May 20, 2015 Share May 20, 2015 This should have been more interesting than it was, but it in between the music, it came off as a series of TV biopic cliches Raised in poverty Taken in by a mentor whose talent and popularity she eventually surpasses Troubled marriage whose volatility was exacerbated, in part, by numerous extra-marital affairs with both sexes Record industry executives who take her for granted or ignore her, before her eventual triumph Family reconciliation Dies young I'm sure I've missed some because I eventually tuned it out. 1 Link to comment
spaceytraci1208 May 21, 2015 Share May 21, 2015 It just didn't feel like a cohesive story to me; great performances though. 3 Link to comment
jah1986 May 21, 2015 Share May 21, 2015 It only felt like performances. I don't know how to articulate this, but to me it felt like "look at me and what a great performance I'm giving" but I still have no idea who Bessie Smith was or why she was important and called the Empress of Blues. I mean I didn't get that from this movie. This could have been about anybody or even fictional. There just didn't seem to be a lot of depth. I thought MoNique was the best part. 3 Link to comment
topanga May 21, 2015 Share May 21, 2015 But is it worth watching? If I do see it, I'll probably fast-forward through Queen Latifah's extended nude scene. I just don't think nudity is necessary in movies. Except for Brad Pitt's butt. That was the only part of "Troy" that I genuinely enjoyed. 2 Link to comment
jah1986 May 21, 2015 Share May 21, 2015 I don't know if it's worth watching. The extended nude scene I had completely blocked out, so unnecessary. YMMV, I certainly don't have to see it again. Link to comment
Irlandesa May 22, 2015 Share May 22, 2015 I learned more about Bessie from Wikipedia than I did from the movie. There were some decent performances but it felt more like they wanted to cover a somewhat forgotten talent more than they truly understood the angle they wanted to take on her story. I also thought the best part was when she was with Monique's character, which surprised me because I usually can't stand Monique. As far as the nude scene, I had no problem with it. Usually, I don't like them because they feel gratuitously put in for the male gaze. I forgot she was naked soon after the scene started because it was more representative of where she was in her life. Link to comment
Amethyst May 22, 2015 Share May 22, 2015 But is it worth watching? If I do see it, I'll probably fast-forward through Queen Latifah's extended nude scene. I just don't think nudity is necessary in movies. Except for Brad Pitt's butt. That was the only part of "Troy" that I genuinely enjoyed. I think it is. Something I appreciate about recent biopics is that they're doing less of the "birth to death" format and just focusing on a specific period in their lives. There is standard biopic material throughout (tragedy, drug/alcohol abuse, etc) but the performances are ultimately what sell the film. Queen Latifah is great and Mo'Nique was outstanding. I think QL sang all the songs in the film and she did a great job. Strong performance from Michael Kenneth Williams as well. But the third act of the film fell flat because there's no real transition to Bessie's life as a successful singer to being destitute. There's a brief mention of the Great Depression, but you could easily believe that she was her own downfall at the time, given her own depression and worsening alcoholism. The movie didn't showcase those scenes well at all, imo. The nude scene isn't a big deal, but I also knew about it going in so it wasn't a surprise. IA with Irlandesa; it's more indicative of where she is in her life than just "hey, boobs!" 2 Link to comment
topanga May 23, 2015 Share May 23, 2015 The nude scene isn't a big deal, but I also knew about it going in so it wasn't a surprise. IA with Irlandesa; it's more indicative of where she is in her life than just "hey, boobs!" Thanks. I didn't know about the nude scene till I heard the discussion on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show." But those DJs are crazy and funny and exaggerate the importance of everything they discuss. Link to comment
Ohwell May 24, 2015 Share May 24, 2015 The main issue I had with this was that, while Monique came off (to me) as Ma Rainey, Queen Latifah was...Queen Latifah. I just couldn't get into her as Bessie Smith and I don't think she was really that good of an actress in the role. Plus, Ma Rainey was right that the "my man done me wrong" songs sounded the same and basically had three chords. I just got bored after a while. 1 Link to comment
FuriousStyles May 25, 2015 Share May 25, 2015 Agree with most of what's already been said. Normally I have no problem with nude scenes, and actually welcome them (cause im kind of a perv) but the nude scene here just seemed unecessary. But funny thing is, I was more shocked by the sex scene Bessie had with the bootlegger (y'all know which one im talking about) than of her sitting in a chair with her boobs all out. And I agree, I had a hard time not seeing Queen Latifah. I dont know if its because I really only watched this because of her, or as others have stated the story just wasnt told right. I had never heard of Bessie before and this movie really didnt do much to enlighten me. I thought the movements through the different parts of her life could have been done better. It felt like chunks of the story had been edited out or something. Link to comment
Ohwell May 26, 2015 Share May 26, 2015 I will say this though: Bessie was extremely forgiving of her older sister because no way would I have let that viper live in my house. Also, even though I thought the father was right to take his son away from a drunken Bessie, I don't give the sister points for opening the door because he would have gotten his son somehow anyway. I think I understood the nude boobs as being indicative of where she was in her life, but I thought the scene was much too long. 1 Link to comment
lovinbob May 26, 2015 Share May 26, 2015 The main issue I had with this was that, while Monique came off (to me) as Ma Rainey, Queen Latifah was...Queen Latifah. I just couldn't get into her as Bessie Smith and I don't think she was really that good of an actress in the role. Plus, Ma Rainey was right that the "my man done me wrong" songs sounded the same and basically had three chords. I just got bored after a while. One of the things I found distracting is that Bessie looked fairly radiant in every scene. Gorgeous skin. And that just didn't fit in with her decline. I agree with those who felt it was disjointed. 1 Link to comment
pasdetrois May 28, 2015 Share May 28, 2015 Mo'Nique stole the show. I enjoyed Queen Latifah's singing the blues but she never disappeared into the character. And yes she always looked luminous and beautiful, whereas Bessie went through some real hard times and surely looked it. 1 Link to comment
divaTy May 30, 2015 Share May 30, 2015 I was also distracted by Queen Latifah's glow in the movie. Halfway through I realized it was because of the golden tan they gave her so she would look dark skinned. I assuming it was self tanner because her skin was luminous all over. I guess it's bad that this is the only thing I came away with after seeing her performance. Monique, on the other hand was amazing and left me wanting more. HBO would be foolish not to give her a Ma Rainey movie. Link to comment
Ohwell May 30, 2015 Share May 30, 2015 Monique, on the other hand was amazing and left me wanting more. HBO would be foolish not to give her a Ma Rainey movie. I would love to see her again as Ma Rainey, Link to comment
Sparger Springs May 31, 2015 Share May 31, 2015 I will say this though: Bessie was extremely forgiving of her older sister because no way would I have let that viper live in my house. Also, even though I thought the father was right to take his son away from a drunken Bessie, I don't give the sister points for opening the door because he would have gotten his son somehow anyway. I think I understood the nude boobs as being indicative of where she was in her life, but I thought the scene was much too long. I read where her sister wasn't actually an evil person. It was greatly exaggerated for the movie. Lucille didn't even exist in real life. Link to comment
Ohwell May 31, 2015 Share May 31, 2015 I read where her sister wasn't actually an evil person. It was greatly exaggerated for the movie. Lucille didn't even exist in real life. So Bessie didn't have a sister? Or she did have a sister but her name wasn't Lucille? And the sister whose name wasn't Lucille wasn't actually an evil person? I'm confused. Link to comment
Constantinople May 31, 2015 Share May 31, 2015 Just wanted to add, after having recently watched Grace of Monaco & the first part of The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, that Bessie is better than either of them. That's not to say that Bessie is good, just that it's not one of the worst movies ever made (Grace). Nor has its subject matter been beaten to death with nothing new to say (Marilyn). Link to comment
Ohwell May 31, 2015 Share May 31, 2015 (edited) Bessie isn't the absolute worst series I've seen, I just think Queen Latifah took all of the air out of it and the writing could have been better. Monique saved it. Edited May 31, 2015 by Ohwell Link to comment
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