Episode 7: Bessie, Starring Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith

Rena and Sara watched Bessie, the 2015 HBO movie starring Queen Latifah as Blues Empress Bessie Smith.

We dissect the glory that is Mo’Nique, the spiritual battle between Dee Rees and Horton Foote, and the world’s fakest-looking pair of emerald earrings as we journey through Bessie Smith’s rise, fall, and recovery (and thankfully, not her tragic death). The all-over-the-place screenplay inspires us to whip out our corkboard, red thread and tinfoil hats with a theory about the 22 year journey the original screenplay took to film. It cannot be overstated: Rena really hates the (extremely fake-looking like they came out of a crackerjack box) emerald earrings.

Bessie stars Queen Latifah, Mo’nique, the late, great Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Charles S. Dutton, and Oliver Platt.

 

Sources:

https://slate.com/culture/2015/05/bessie-hbo-accuracy-fact-vs-fiction-in-the-hbo-biopic-of-bessie-smith-the-empress-of-blues.html

Bessie by Chris Albertson 

The Famous Lady Lovers by Cookie Woolner

 

Spoiler Warning: We spoil everything. And we enjoy it.

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