The film is directed by dee rees, with a screenplay by rees, christopher cleveland and bettina gilois. May 16, 2015 in hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the blues it took queen latifah more than 20 years to bring the life of pioneering blues singer bessie smith to the screen. In ascending order, here is our ranking of the 10 best queen latifah movies. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and influential. Apr 03, 2015 check out the new trailer for bessie, the hbo biopic of blues singer bessie smith starring queen latifah, michael kenneth williams, and monique. With a story by dee rees and horton foote, the film focuses on smiths transformation from a.
Each june, the bessie smith cultural center in chattanooga sponsors the bessie smith strut as part of the citys riverbend festival. Queen latifah stars as bessie smith in this vivid portrait of the legendary 20th century blues singer. Life lessons from the queen, was released in may 2010. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. Queen latifah arrives to screening of hbo movie bessie.
Queen latifah does a fantastic job playing the role and singing it too. Defying the odds against her, bessie smith became one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and 30s. Latifah spoke with bet about a samesex kiss in the upcoming hbo biopic, bessie, in which she stars as legendary blues singer, bessie smith, who was bisexual. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her. No one can sing like bessie smith, but queen latifah does have a great voice and comes pretty close to smiths. Watch the full length movie of bessie online or on the fios mobile app. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the blues. Queen latifah stars in bessie on hbo the new york times. Queen latifah on bessie smith, the blues, and baltimore. Is it true that queen latifah had been trying to get a bessie smith movie made for over 20 years. Queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. Bessie tv movie 2015 queen latifah as bessie smith imdb. With michael kenneth williams, tika sumpter, queen latifah, bryan greenberg. Hbos bessie, premiering saturday on the network, is a flawed drama that nonetheless warrants a look simply because of the bright spotlight it gives the underrated talents of star queen latifah, who does quite easily the best work of her career here.
Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie video. Hbo released a movie about smith, bessie, starring queen latifah, on may 16, 2015. Best jazz albums of 2015 smiths death in a car crash is not depicted in bessie. Watch bessie starring queen latifah in this drama on directv.
Blues singer bessie smith queen latifah rises to fame in the 1920s to become a musical legend. Queen latifah plays blues singer bessie smith in the hbo movie bessie. The biopic of the blues singer bessie smith was written and directed by dee. The film doesnt shy away from smiths bisexuality, and her relationships are the strongest, least conventional moments of the movie. Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid. May 14, 2015 with bessie smith biopic, filmmaker dee rees gets queen latifah to bare her all for an untold story about the sexually liberated blues icon. An hbo films presentation, bessie stars oscar nominee queen latifah chicago in the title role and focuses on legendary blues singer bessie smiths transformation from a struggling young vocalist into the empress of the blues, one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Bessie tv movie 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. A star vehicle and then some, bessie casts queen latifah as blues singer bessie smith, in a big, bold movie thats as vibrant, raw and musical as it is unfocused and messy. A sweet scene in the movie shows recording engineers. Cbs news in her latest role, queen latifah adopts the persona of a 20th century.
As bessie smith s mentor, ma rainey is every bit as fiery as bessie, demanding respect as an artist and as a woman and breaking gender and sexual norms. May 18, 2015 homecoming vengeance et seduction film dhorreur en francais 2018 mischa barton, matt long. The movie is a passion project for queen latifah, 45, who first. Hbo films presents bessie, focusing on legendary blues singer bessie smith, saturday, may 16 at 8pm. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to fame during the 1920s and 30s. Queen latifah was a young rapper just beginning to dabble in acting when she was first approached about the possibility of playing the lead in a film about singer bessie smith. Jul 16, 2015 queen latifah says she worked with a singing coach who trained her to sing in smiths register. It took queen latifah more than 20 years to bring the life of. As bessie smiths mentor, ma rainey is every bit as fiery as bessie, demanding respect as an artist and as a woman and breaking gender and sexual norms. Queen latifah plays the blues singer bessie smith in the biopic, which. No one can sing like bessie smith, but queen latifah does have a great voice and comes pretty close to smith s.
Queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie. Bessie smith played by queen latifah on bessie hbo. Queen latifah is so convincing in the new hbo movie bessie, that you will find yourself googling the real empress of blues just to differentiate the two the rapper turned actress mesmerizes as. Queen latifah stars as smith, and supporting roles are played by michael kenneth williams as smith s first husband jack gee. Apr 04, 2015 defying the odds against her, bessie smith became one of the most acclaimed performing and recording artists of the 1920s and 30s. Just log on to your verizon account and watch the latest shows online. Weepin woman blues written by ma rainey performed by queen latifah and pat bass. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a. Filmmaker dee rees gets queen latifah to bare all in bessie. This sexuallycharged, intense look at blues icon bessie smith often feels defiantly episodic, as if cowriterdirector dee rees is. Smith, who was born in tennessee, became a star in the early days of recorded music. Watch the trailer for the hbo biopic, starring queen. And queen latifah was positively glowing on wednesday when she arrived at the new york screening of. Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships and incomparable artistry in the downanddirty world of southern blues.
Outstanding actress, tv movie or limited series queen latifah. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by. Transcript for queen latifah sings the blues in her new. Jul 10, 2015 queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and influential. Queen latifah, monique and dee rees on making hbos. Queen latifah stars in this biopic of pioneering singer bessie smith, depicting her tempestuous relationships and incomparable artistry in the. Queen latifah opens up about those lesbian love scenes in. In hbos bessie, queen latifah stars as empress of the blues it took queen latifah more than 20 years to bring the life of pioneering blues singer bessie smith to. Onscreen love scenes, gay or straight, should not be a matter of controversy, according to queen latifah. May 10, 2015 queen latifah did her homework to play blues singer bessie smith in hbos movie bessie, airing saturday at 8 p. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit who, despite her own demons, went on to become one of the most successful and.
Bessie smith queen latifah is a young singer from chattanooga, tennessee. Latifah was best known as a rap artist in the 1990s when producers richard d. Queen latifah performs courtesy of flavor unit records. Queen latifah is heading to hbo the rapper, actress, and talk show host will star in and exec produce a bessie smith biopic for the premium cable network the telepic revolves around iconic. Cedric the entertainer, queen latifah and ice cube in barbershop 2. Queen latifah says she worked with a singing coach who trained her to sing in smiths register. Bessie is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Besides latifah, monique as ma rainey is the other standout performance in the film.
Apr 14, 2017 queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable bessie smith like a boss queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith. Bessie tv movie 2015 queen latifah as bessie smith. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by dee rees and christopher cleveland. Bessie smith songwriter queen latifah recording artist evyen klean.
With queen latifah, kamryn johnson, rikki mckinney, alan t. As of 2016, bessie remained the most watched hbo original movie of all time with 1. Hbo has posted a trailer for bessie, which stars queen latifah. With bessie smith biopic, filmmaker dee rees gets queen latifah to bare her all for an untold story about the sexually liberated blues icon. Outstanding director, tv movie or limited series dee rees. She plays 1920s blues legend bessie smith in the upcoming hbo biopic. All about legendary blues singer bessie smith s rise from obscurity to international fame in this clip, oh. Jun 23, 2015 queen latifahs new movie, hbos bessie, actually has been on her radar for more than 20 years. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose. Queen latifah sings the blues in her new film bessie. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Yeah, this project came pretty early in my career as an actress, latifah told npr. I was basically queen latifah, the hiphop head, queen latifah, the rapperturnedactress.
Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable. Sep 14, 2015 queen latifah, 45, gets ready for the emmys sept. When i heard this movie was coming out i just chuckled to myself thinking about all the. May, 2015 a star vehicle and then some, bessie casts queen latifah as blues singer bessie smith, in a big, bold movie thats as vibrant, raw and musical as it is unfocused and messy. Queen latifah takes on nudity, sexuality, and the indomitable bessie smith like a boss queen latifah gives the performance of her career in hbos biopic of singer bessie smith.
May 03, 2015 in a new hbo movie the hip hop artist and actress recreates the life of the empress of the blues, bessie smith. Bessie, on hbo, stars queen latifah as blues singer. Written by bessie smith performed by queen latifah queen latifah performs courtesy of flavor unit records. In september 20, queen latifah became the host of her very own talk show which she produced with partner shakim compere, and overbrook entertainments will smith, jada smith and james lassiter. Bessie smith songwriter queen latifah recording artist evyen klean music supervisor. In a new hbo movie the hip hop artist and actress recreates the life of the empress of the blues, bessie smith. Queen latifah to star as bessie smith in hbo biopic. The rosebud march written by scott joplin performed by. Mar 25, 2016 queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees from a screenplay by dee rees and christopher cleveland. The film focuses on smith s transformation from a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues, who became one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and is an enduring icon today. Blessed with style and substance, queen latifah has. Queen latifah talks bessie smith portrayal billboard.
Queen latifah brings bessie smith to life in a biopic that cant rise to. Outstanding tv movie or limited series ron schmidt. Queen latifah stars as legendary blues singer bessie smith in this hbo films presentation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker dee rees. Bessie is an hbo tv film about the american blues singer bessie smith, and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into the empress of the blues. All about legendary blues singer bessie smiths rise from obscurity to international fame in this clip, oh. The story of legendary blues performer bessie smith, who rose to. May 15, 2015 hbos bessie, premiering saturday on the network, is a flawed drama that nonetheless warrants a look simply because of the bright spotlight it gives the underrated talents of star queen latifah, who does quite easily the best work of her career here.
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