Can you talk about style a little bit, because the thing about Bessie Smith is: Because she and Rainey and other people in the blues were precursors to the jazz singers that we're all familiar with, we almost take their sound for granted, right? Like Latifah spoke with BET about a same-sex kiss in the … Read more
In an industry where biopics—especially TV biopics—rarely do their subjects justice, Rees' Bessie (which debuts May 16 on the cable network) does an excellent job of placing Smith and her legacy of music, sexual freedom and bravery in a historical Bessie Smith's songs read like chapter titles of her tumultuous life: “Down Hearted Blues,” “There'll … Read more
Queen Latifah gives the most impressive performance of her film career in the upcoming HBO original movie Bessie. Queen brings to life the compelling story of The Empress of Blues, Bessie Smith. “I had to go to a lot of Bessie Smith's songs read like chapter titles of her tumultuous life: “Down Hearted Blues,” “There'll … Read more
When Dee Rees talks about what went into the writing and directing of "Bessie," her language starts to shift into the rhythms of the great soul singer's music. Bessie Smith, the subject of HBO's highly-anticipated biopic, In a recent interview with Uptown magazine Queen Latifah opens up with what it was like to portray 1920's … Read more
In an industry where biopics—especially TV biopics—rarely do their subjects justice, Rees' Bessie (which debuts May 16 on the cable network) does an excellent job of placing Smith and her legacy of music, sexual freedom and bravery in a historical Figuring out what made Bessie Smith different from every other blues singer doesn't require a … Read more
Many viewers will come to the HBO biopic "Bessie" with scant knowledge of its subject, blues legend and Chattanooga native Bessie Smith. But in the title role, Queen Latifah schools you with a bruising display of fierce drive, unstoppable talent and a Queen Latifah shines bright in HBO's new biopic, Bessie, which captures the unique … Read more
Though she passed away when she was only 43, Bessie Smith established herself as one of the most iconic figures in the jazz and blues scene in the early part of the 1900's. She was already developing a following in the South around the time that female HBO's Lucinda Martinez talks about Solange and Janelle … Read more
Can you talk about style a little bit, because the thing about Bessie Smith is: Because she and Rainey and other people in the blues were precursors to the jazz singers that we're all familiar with, we almost take their sound for granted, right? Like Though many people don't even know her name, Bessie Smith … Read more