REVIEW: THE PIANO LESSON

4/5

Plays In The Key Of Life

125 Mins. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler & Corey Hawkins. Screenplay: Virgil Williams & Malcolm Washington. Director: Malcolm Washington. On: Netflix.

Many heirlooms are passed down between family members, generation to generation. On the branches of the Washington family tree, nepotism is not one of them. Descendants of George Washington, Denzel and Pauletta's kids make their own luck. August Wilson was a prolific playwright. His ten plays and 'Pittsburgh Cycle' made real Tony actors out of the likes of Denzel Washington, Sam Jackson and an Oscar winning Viola Davis. Think of August as Tennessee Williams meets James Baldwin. Giving us the poetry of life's rich and most extraordinary moments, for better or worse, altar to hearse. After Wilson's far too soon passing in 2005, Washington was tasked with producing his plays and bringing them to movie theatres. Now, the Academy Award-winning actor ('Training Day', 'Glory'), who has a few films left in him before retirement (you might have heard of the one out now, plus the next 'Black Panther' and a couple more great 'Equalizers') is dedicating the rest of his life to August and everything after.

He already built 'Fences', acting and directing, like 'Antwone Fisher', one of the best pictures of his career (and this is a man who has done everything from 'Philadelphia' to 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth'), and then he produced 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' for Netflix, also starring Viola Davis, an incredible Colman Domingo and the Oscar nominated, late, great Chadwick Boseman. Now, Denzel, alongside friend Todd Black, produces 'The Piano Lesson' for the streaming service, which you should all recite your song sheets for. But that's where it ends for the G.O.A.T. You can see from his humility at the Toronto International Film Festival, or how he reacts to his introduction on the Netflix behind the scenes special 'The Piano Lesson: Legacy and a Vision', that this is not about him, but his kin and the incredible artists they have raised. The 'Malcolm X' stars son Malcolm Washington (producer of 'North Hollywood') makes his directorial debut (also produced by sister Katia Washington in this family affair), and one that confirms his as one of the best new and rising talents behind the camera. Cutting into this story concerning a piano decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. 

The directing child of Spike Lee and Terrence Malick, with this psalm in the tree of life, is a wonder. Co-writing this film with a script from the vivid Virgil Williams ('24', 'ER' and a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination for Dee Rees and 'Netflix's' magnificent 'Mudbound'), adapted of course from August's wonderful work (Wilson's play has already been made into a 1995 T.V. movie starring Charles S. Dutton, Alfre Woodard and Courtney B. Vance). From Broadway to a blockbuster Oscar, Washington reflects Wilson in a haunting heirloom as grand as the piano itself. Getting behind the notes and past the fringes of a stage setting, like fenced in other works on house arrest with some breaktime in the yard. Malcolm also knows how to bring the hereditary scares to this ghost of families past story. Although it's not done with hack Hollywood horror tropes. It's real. It's spiritual. Like the song they sing (or the ones the great Erykah Badu does here) knocking on wood, with a cross to bear. It's biblical. A lesson we could all do with learning in the aftermath of this great depression.

Read all about the GQ feature to get even more bonded with this family story. As Malcolm directs his own brother, John David Washington. Star of Spike Lee's incendiary 'BlacKkKlansman' (and also a brief role in 'X'), Christopher Nolan's terrific, but COVID quarantined 'Tenet', Netflix's 'Malcolm & Marie' in black and white with Zendaya, and most recently, one of the most original science-fiction future fables in 'The Creator'. Now, stepping out of his father's shadow, all whilst having epic echoes of his acting eternity and fraternity, not to mention his 'Ballers' status as the football star that almost made the NFL, John David could go toe-to-toe with his pop's scene-stealing turn in 'Gladiator II' for the acting Academy Award ace. His character's passion so palpable it gets under everybody in this movie's skin. All as he wants more in the game than just selling watermelons. The thousand yards of land in his stare out the window of his truck, looking all the way back to the past, showing just how better future focussed he is, and how worse off that could make him with those who are there through thick and thin.

Give him the glory. Unless his co-star Samuel L. Jackson (who dad has known since 1981's 'A Soldier's Play'), spinning yarn like 'The Hateful Eight', has anything to say about that. Denying him like he does the lifting of the titular piano. John David and Samuel L have been doing this for years on stage. But they even have their work cut for them when it comes to a scene owning Danielle Deadwyler ('For Colored Girls', 'A Cross To Bear'), or star of the future, Skylar Aleece Smith. Deadwyler with the power of her ancestors behind her, with a hand on her shoulder, won't give up the ghost. Then there is an unrecognizable Cyborg, in Ray Fisher's (an off-off Broadway veteran of the likes of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and 'King Lear') 'Of Mice and Men' like turn with dignity and respect. And Corey Hawkins ('The Color Purple', 'The Tragedy Of Macbeth' and Will Smith's 'Six Degrees Of Separation' role on stage) going from Dr. Dre ('Straight Outta Compton') to the power of a preacher with a HELL YEAH! Yet, it's Netflix 'Rustin' actor Michael Potts, who brings this all together, like he does with Wilson's other work, or Glynn Turman does for 'Ma Rainey'. Everyone involved honours the work like ancestry does every member of the family. May the cycle continue to turn as this world and our lives do so too. Ashes to ashes. From the roots, to the bloom TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Fences', 'The Piano Lesson (1995)'.