Bessie is an HBO TV film about the American blues singer Bessie Smith, it became the most watched HBO original film in the network's history and was also well received critically and garnered four Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Television Movie. Bessie focuses on the transformation of Bessie Smith as a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues". The film is directed by Dee Rees, with a screenplay by Dee Rees, Christopher Cleveland and Bettina Gilois. Queen Latifah stars as Bessie Smith whilst supporting roles are played by Michael Kenneth Williams as Smith's first husband Jack Gee, Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey, Khandi Alexander as Viola Smith, Bessie's older sister, Tory Kittles as Clarence Smith, Bessie's older brother and Mike Epps as Richard Morgan, a romantic interest of Bessie's and later, her lifetime companion.
There was a reason why I watched this film, it was because Michael K Williams plays a huge role in it and the actor's death made me want to watch it, he's a brilliant actor and he portrays Jack Gee perfectly with care and respect in this film. In finally watching the film, I got to see Queen Latifah truly embracing the character and doing Bessie justice, it was a brilliant performance. The writing and cinematography were top notch, truly incredible. The writers and director really care for the story and characters, of the history.
Though I found the some of the direction and some choices to be not on the same level or right for the movie, there should have been more focus on Bessie's state of mind and mental health and why she acted the way that she did, a longer run time would help but also some better direction. With a longer run time, it would have given time to dig more into "The Empress of the Blues" and the supporting cast, and of course more time for the actors to truly shine. But the cast was brilliant, and they also succeeded with the music and the numerous shows and gigs, all were nicely executed. I just wished that the film would have had a bigger budget plus a grander scope, Bessie Smith's story has much more to tell and it's impossible to have all that in a film at the length of 115 minutes. Mini series or 160 minutes would have done it justice as it would have fleshed out the characters a lot more plus showing us more of Bessie's life and the chance of digging deeper into her life.
But for a biopic, Bessie is a great film. I enjoyed it from start to finish and was left pleased. Cinematography, costume design, production design and acting was all top notch. There's much to enjoy and Queen Latifah is a big reason why the film works so well.
There was a reason why I watched this film, it was because Michael K Williams plays a huge role in it and the actor's death made me want to watch it, he's a brilliant actor and he portrays Jack Gee perfectly with care and respect in this film. In finally watching the film, I got to see Queen Latifah truly embracing the character and doing Bessie justice, it was a brilliant performance. The writing and cinematography were top notch, truly incredible. The writers and director really care for the story and characters, of the history.
Though I found the some of the direction and some choices to be not on the same level or right for the movie, there should have been more focus on Bessie's state of mind and mental health and why she acted the way that she did, a longer run time would help but also some better direction. With a longer run time, it would have given time to dig more into "The Empress of the Blues" and the supporting cast, and of course more time for the actors to truly shine. But the cast was brilliant, and they also succeeded with the music and the numerous shows and gigs, all were nicely executed. I just wished that the film would have had a bigger budget plus a grander scope, Bessie Smith's story has much more to tell and it's impossible to have all that in a film at the length of 115 minutes. Mini series or 160 minutes would have done it justice as it would have fleshed out the characters a lot more plus showing us more of Bessie's life and the chance of digging deeper into her life.
But for a biopic, Bessie is a great film. I enjoyed it from start to finish and was left pleased. Cinematography, costume design, production design and acting was all top notch. There's much to enjoy and Queen Latifah is a big reason why the film works so well.