Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2025 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis ‘absolutely tear it up’ in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ says critic

Critics review “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” an adaptation of August Wilson’s play of the same name, about the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis; “Education,” the fifth and final installment of director Steve McQueen's “Small…

  • rss
  • Share
By Madeleine Brand • Dec 18, 2020 • 16m Listen

Critics review “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” an adaptation of August Wilson’s play of the same name, about the legendary blues singer Ma Rainey, played by Viola Davis; “Education,” the fifth and final installment of director Steve McQueen's “Small Axe” series about pivotal moments of Black British history; “Greenland,” about an apocalyptic series of comets hitting the earth’s surface; “Tenet,” Christopher Nolan’s much anticipated film about a secret agent who tries to prevent World War III.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Madeleine Brand

    Host, 'Press Play'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Angie Perrin

    Producer, Press Play

  • KCRW placeholder

    Michell Eloy

    Line Editor, Press Play

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Walsh

    film reviewer for the Tribune News Service, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wrap

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christy Lemire

    film critic for RogerEbert.com and co-host of the YouTube channel “Breakfast All Day”

    CultureEntertainment
Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand