If you're going into this HBO biopic because you love Bessie Smith, you're going to be very pleased. Queen Latifah alters her normal singing style to emulate the Empress of Blues. The story of her life is full of drama, and there's never a dull moment to keep you riveted. If you're watching Bessie because you love Queen Latifah, you'll be even more pleased. I always watch her movies, and I've never seen her give such a brave performance. This is not her usual fare, so if you've only seen her in Beauty Shop and Hairspray, you're going to be very surprised. When I found out she lost both the Golden Globe and Emmy awards, it made me sick.
Ambition and courage take young Bessie from her small town to run away with a touring singer, Ma Rainey (played by Mo'Nique). She learns the ropes of the music business and discovers the power of bonding with a live audience. In addition to their love of the blues, they also share certain personal preferences, and Bessie discovers the freedom of being herself. As the years pass, Bessie's career blooms, but her personal life doesn't settle down. She gets in physical and emotional fights, has tumultuous relationships with both men and women, and drowns her old family hurts in food and alcohol.
In one incredibly memorable scene, Bessie is performing in a tent when the entire concert is surrounded by the KKK. Even though she's scared, her bravery takes her off the stage, outside to confront the villains. Her temper frightens them off, and to the deafening cheers of the audience, she continues to sing. There are countless powerful scenes that show a very lonely woman trying to cover up her pain, and while I could gladly describe them and praise Queen Latifah's incredible performance, you're better off watching the movie and experiencing the scenes as they unfold. If you're hesitating to rent it because you doubt her dramatic talent, believe me: she absolutely has the acting chops to pull off this very complex role.
I've always turned to Last Holiday as her finest hour, but I can't deny that this heavy drama outshines anything else I've seen her make. The production values made me forget it wasn't a big-budget Hollywood movie, and there's no doubt in my mind if it were released on the big screen, Miss Latifah would have won an Oscar instead of Brie Larson. Then again, maybe not; the Academy Awards (and other awards, obviously) constantly give prizes to undeserving performances. Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for her shockingly horrid "interpretation" of Judy Garland, and Queen Latifah lost her Golden Globe to Lady Gaga in American Horror Story.
Ambition and courage take young Bessie from her small town to run away with a touring singer, Ma Rainey (played by Mo'Nique). She learns the ropes of the music business and discovers the power of bonding with a live audience. In addition to their love of the blues, they also share certain personal preferences, and Bessie discovers the freedom of being herself. As the years pass, Bessie's career blooms, but her personal life doesn't settle down. She gets in physical and emotional fights, has tumultuous relationships with both men and women, and drowns her old family hurts in food and alcohol.
In one incredibly memorable scene, Bessie is performing in a tent when the entire concert is surrounded by the KKK. Even though she's scared, her bravery takes her off the stage, outside to confront the villains. Her temper frightens them off, and to the deafening cheers of the audience, she continues to sing. There are countless powerful scenes that show a very lonely woman trying to cover up her pain, and while I could gladly describe them and praise Queen Latifah's incredible performance, you're better off watching the movie and experiencing the scenes as they unfold. If you're hesitating to rent it because you doubt her dramatic talent, believe me: she absolutely has the acting chops to pull off this very complex role.
I've always turned to Last Holiday as her finest hour, but I can't deny that this heavy drama outshines anything else I've seen her make. The production values made me forget it wasn't a big-budget Hollywood movie, and there's no doubt in my mind if it were released on the big screen, Miss Latifah would have won an Oscar instead of Brie Larson. Then again, maybe not; the Academy Awards (and other awards, obviously) constantly give prizes to undeserving performances. Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for her shockingly horrid "interpretation" of Judy Garland, and Queen Latifah lost her Golden Globe to Lady Gaga in American Horror Story.