Bessie (Digital Copy/DVD)

I enjoyed it, I love Latifah!

After watching this I said.... I should've bought that one.

Excellent movie based on the life story of Bessie Smith Queen Latiffah did a excellent job portraying her

My fiancé and I decided watch this after the kids were sleep one night. The movie explores some dark themes, it ultimately celebrates Bessie’s enduring legacy in the world of blues music. It’s a must-watch for music lovers and those interested in influential figures in American history. Definitely watched because Queen Latifah played Bessie tho.

While Bessie Smith isn't my favorite blues singer, her rough and passionate spirit is something I've come to admire. In this film, this spirit is on full display as Bessie drinks for pleasure and pain, has male AND female lovers,and fights anyone who disrespects her or those she cares for. A favorite scene is when Bessie stands up to the Ku Klux Klan after they threaten to burn down her tent during one of her shows! Underneath that rough n' tumble spirit is the desire to sing the blues and she learns to sing it for other black people and for herself. Queen Latifah does a fantastic job playing the role and singing it too. No one can sing like Bessie Smith, but Queen Latifah does have a great voice and comes pretty close to Smith's.Besides Latifah, Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey is the other standout performance in the film. As Bessie Smith's mentor, Ma Rainey is every bit as fiery as Bessie, demanding respect as an artist and as a woman and breaking gender and sexual norms. With her character, my favorite scene is when Ma Rainey assumes the manner of a man and wears a suit, surprising Smith and captivating the audience as she performs "Prove It on Me Blues",It is Rainey who helps Smith's fire burn. By teaching her to take risks and stand out and caring for her well being as an artist and a person, Rainey is a great character to love.In addition to the acting and the characters, the soundtrack, sets, and costumes were fantastic. With the soundtrack, you have Bessie Smith songs, but you also have some instrumental jazz and big band jazz hat is perfect for the time period of the film. The costumes and sets really capture the glamor and the grit of the 20's and 30's; my favorite outfits were the ones worn by Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey.A final aspect of the film that was notable was the portrayal of not only racism. but also colorism (especially with the paper bag test), and respectability politics (especially with that record company that wanted to "uplift the race"). Having these issues discussed in the film showed the complex issues of what black people had to deal with then and still have to deal with today. For black viewers like myself, it showed where we have been and how far we still need to go.The only flaw in the film is that they got the nicknames for Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey mixed up. When Ma Rainey is announced in the film, she is introduced as "The Empress of The Blues", but in real life, she is called "The Mother of The Blues". Bessie Smith is the one who should've been called "Empress of The Blues", not Ma Rainey.As someone who loves The Harlem Renaissance, especially the lesser known parts of it, this film was so entertaining that I viewed it twice in two days before writing this review.. As a black, queer, woman it was great to see the story of someone who lived and loved by her own rules. Bessie Smith (and Ma Rainey) were the first people to embody what would be the spirit of rock n' roll and history is much better for it.

I will be rewatching this movie about one of the classic women in American musical performance. The idiotic, lamentable, & outrageous discrimination of the day meant that she was not recorded at the quality or quantity in the venues that she should have been, but even so, she pushed on to the extent of one’s dignity in the face of oppression. I enjoyed everything about this movie. I have not fact-checked it against history, but I have listened to most of her songs on YouTube, and I used to have a couple of her records (until my last move - strange how things go missing when you move). I’d recommend this movie.

I have been a student of Bessie Smith for many years. I have read everything that has been published. I have talked withChris Albertson and listened to unreleased additional recollections of Bessie's niece who toured with her aunt for years. When I heard this movie was coming out I just chuckled to myself thinking about all the stories Ruby had told and what fun it was going to be because Bessie was a character! Whoever wrote the screenplay had no clue what Bessie was about and only based things from song lyrics. It was terrible. And Queen Latifah played Queen Latifah just like she does in all her movies. Some movies it fits her character and some it doesn't. This one was definitely miscast. Latifah does NOT have the guts and growl of Smith and plays it a little too Rebecca From Sunnybrook Farm. Bessie was tough, crude and lived life to the fullest. She was a show people. Whatever she did - loved, laughed, sang - she did it full force. This movie was a bit milk toast but did have a few vignettes from true stories but really played down. It is the only movie ever made about Bessie so at least it is a step in the right direction. Now beyond the story line, the costuming and sets were wonderful. The only thing not factual was Bessie living in this big mansion. She didn't. She lived in a row house in Philadelphia and wasn't really concerned with house beautiful. When she was home - she was home and wanted to be normal and natural and not pretentious. The director is a lesbian and Latifah is a lesbian. Bessie was bi-sexual so they REALLY play up the lesbian aspect and kind of shove it down your throat. One thing they didn't even touch on that well was Gertrude Saunders and how that changed everything including some very funny incidents but that was all left out of the movie.

The movie was great! Queen Latifah and Monique were excellent!There was a few second blurp in the cd but I can live with it.

ok

😀

excellente bio. Queen Latifah est parfaite

This is arguably the best bio-pic I've seen. Queen Latiffah's performance in the lead is both credible and powerful. The only disappointment, if I can call it that, is there is no mention of or rendition of her wonderful performance of St Louis Blues. Nonetheless, the music is wonderful and I also have the soundtrack CD. This is a must buy for all lovers of the blues and good acting.

Received item in good order