Bessie Queen Latifah as the blues singer Bessie Smith in this film, which has its premiere on HBO on Saturday night. Credit Frank Masi/HBO
“Bessie” is about a blues singer, but what the movie could really use is more soul.
The film, which has its premiere Saturday night on HBO, stars Queen Latifah as Bessie Smith, a woman who is said to have lived quite a colorful, provocative life. “Bessie” shows us an assortment of moments from that life but doesn’t really make us feel it, despite Queen Latifah’s best efforts. Blame a choppy presentation that checks off points in the Bessie Smith timeline but doesn’t probe them or knit them together.
For the complete review, visit TheNewYorkTimes/Arts/Television.
