Considering the movie's title, and Viola Davis's spirited portrayal of Ma Rainey, it seemed to me that Chadwick Boseman's portrayal of band member Levee provided the spark and energy for this picture, right up to the tragic circumstance that leads Levee to erupt in anger and seal his doomed fate. In fact, almost all the other musicians in the story appear to have more screen time than the title character, with Cutler (Colman Domingo) and Toledo (Glynn Turman) engaging in meaningful soliloquies that provide resonance to their back stories. Yet Ma Rainey becomes the most forceful presence anytime she's on screen, making demands of her white manager and producer, and exerting her influence over what songs she sings and in what manner they will be performed. Levee's insistence on bringing an uptempo vibe to Ma's traditional back water blues reminds me of the angst Sam Cooke experienced when he was faced with the difficult decision to move from old time spirituals to pop music, thereby making his music more accessible to a wider audience. The most electric scene in my estimation was when Levee called upon Cutler's god to intervene on his behalf when the young upstart threatened to cut him up. Though that potential tragedy was averted, Levee's uncontrolled temper got the upper hand in his confrontation with Toledo over the scuffed shoe. His volatile temper and the racial divide that permeated 1920's America effectively destroyed Levee's dream of forming his own band, punctuated by producer Sturdyvant's (Jonny Coyne) denial of his talent, while having a white band and singer perform his written music. Currently streaming on Netflix, "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" features solid performances by the principals, and some stunning blues numbers that will whet your appetite for more.