John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Potts and Ray Fisher (L-R) star in Netflix’s “The Piano Lesson” (Photo courtesy of Netflix Studios).
(“The Piano Lesson” trailer courtesy of Netflix)
Following in the footsteps of a legend can present a daunting task because the comparisons can become unbearable.
John David Washington had no choice but to face comparisons to his two-time Academy Award-winning father Denzel Washington.
But another son, filmmaker Malcom Washington chose to take on comparisons to arguably the greatest Black playwright of all time August Wilson by creating a big screen adaptation of “The Piano Lesson.”
While “The Piano Lesson” has its flaws, John David Washington pulls off a Denzel-like performance.
And with the help of co-stars like Ray Fisher, Samuel L. Jackson and Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”), the big screen adaptation is a decent watch.
Because of slavery and Jim Crow, many Black families did not have much to pass on to future generations other than love, faith and a strong family bond.
As a result, when a Black family did own something of material value, it became a treasured piece of history, which future generations could hold onto and feel connected to ancestors long lost to the history books.
Unfortunately, the term ownership always presented a conundrum for Black people in America.
Via slavery, Black people had an “owner.”
And as a result, everything that Black people “owned,” was really owned by their “owner”.
In “The Piano Lesson,” Boy Charles (Stephan James) is determined to reclaim his family’s heirloom, even if it kills him and puts the rest of his family in danger.
It is the Fourth of July in 1911.
And sure, that day is reserved to celebrate America’s freedom.
But like Frederick Douglass once said, what is the Fourth of July to the slave.
Sure, several decades have passed since the emancipation of enslaved Black people.
But conditions have not changed much at all.
If someone rubs the White man the wrong way or gets out of line, they could find themselves hanging from a tree.
That reality makes Boy Charles’ caper that more daring.
While the White residents of the town are celebrating the holiday with fireworks and music, Boy Charles and his brothers are reclaiming the music of their forefathers by stealing a piano that they believe is rightfully theirs.
Amazingly, Boy Charles succeeds with the theft.
Unfortunately, major problems for his family only begin once he regains a piece of family legacy.
Twenty-five years later, Boy Charles’ son Boy Willie (John David Washington) is all grown up.
While he is rough around the edges, Boy Willie is determined to add to his father’s legacy by purchasing some land from the Sutter family after the family patriarch dies a mysterious death.
Although Boy Willie is convinced the ghost of the yellow dog killed old man Sutter, other relatives are not so sure.
The Sutter family goes back along way with Boy Willie’s family because of slavery.
That dynamic has created some tension between the two families for years.
So, it is not far-fetched to think that old man Sutter met with some foul play, especially since Boy Willie and his friend Lymon (Fisher) appear all the way in Pittsburgh from Mississippi shortly after Sutter’s tragic demise.
Everyone knows Sutter died after falling into a well.
But did the ghost of the yellow dog get him?
Or did an old bitter enemy finally catch up with him?
In “The Piano Lesson,” Boy Willie and Lymon show up in Pittsburgh in the middle of the night, surprising Willie’s uncle Doaker (Jackson) and his sister Berniece (Deadwyler).
The two have come from Mississippi to sell a whole truck full of sweet watermelons so that Boy Willie can round up enough cash to buy some of Sutter’s old land.
Convincing Berniece to sell the old piano, which is just collecting dust in her Pittsburgh home, would guarantee that Boy Willie would have enough cash for the deed.
Unfortunately for Boy Willie, Berniece has different plans for the family heirloom.
And although the ghost of the yellow dog might not have killed Sutter, his ghost might be set on revenge against Boy Willie and anyone from his family.
“The Piano Lesson” is a solid big screen adaptation of the Wilson classic.
However, it does not live up to the high bar set by the stage play or the 1995 television adaptation, which starred Charles S. Dutton and Alfre Woodard from the standpoint of how the story is told.
The 1995 version did more with less because it did not come across as eccentric as the new Netflix version.
The 2024 version of “The Piano Lesson” has some “Beloved” vibes.
But while the film adaptation of Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” totally missed the mark, Malcolm Washington does a solid job directing “The Piano Lesson.”
Additionally, the entire cast handles their business in “The Piano Lesson.”
If moviegoers close their eyes briefly, they might think they are listening to Denzel Washington and not John David Washington, especially when Boy Willie gets into heated arguments with Berniece.
But Fisher is the star of “The Piano Lesson” in his supporting role as Lymon.
Stereotypically, people from the country know a person that is kind of slow, but has a good heart and personality, nonetheless.
Additionally, “The Piano Lesson” allows Jackson to play a more subdued and submissive character as opposed to the stereotypically loud and profane performances that many know him for.
Michael Potts shines as well as Doaker’s brother Wining Boy.
Many early 20th century Black families down south will connect with Wining Boy because he is the one that left the country lifestyle behind first, and everyone thinks he is a big shot because he has a job that does not require him to do the stereotypical farm and house labor that many Black Americans were relegated to at that time.
But beneath the surface he still wrestles with the demons that many Black men battled during those days.
Despite the great performances, the scenes depicted demonic spirits might be a little too strange for Netflix viewers.
But the weirdness does not stop “The Piano Lesson” from being a solid watch, despite following in the footsteps of some legendary creatives.
Check out “The Piano Lesson” now in select theaters.
Also, check it out on Netflix on Nov. 22.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
