The Piano Lesson (Netflix) Misguided Direction Saved By Stunning Detweiler And Ensemble
Quick Take: Malcolm Washington, son of Denzel, is making his feature directorial debut with a challenging August Wilson work. We meet several members of a tight knit family, with Samuel L Jackson serving largely as the de facto patriarch of this clan, and most of the film taking place in his home. Though, he is often just a voyeur as the energy between John David Washington and Danielle Detweiler powers the film, as he is looking to buy some land that has a deep familial connection, and wants to sell the family piano in order to do it. Detweiler, of course, isn’t having it. But, the past is what is left unspoken, and mysterious, which is how there is a literal ghost haunting this family as they deal with generational trauma, the nearly non-existent wealth they have accumulated this far, and a desire to rise up to the next station.
Really, the male cast here is solid, with John David Washington as a standout. However, it is Danielle Detweiler who steals the show, often saying nothing, and using her physicality and lack of response to drive a conversation. This movie is steeped in familial connection, with one sequence leading to song, but it is Detweiler, and her intensity that captivated me in a sometimes confused movie that has a ghost it isn’t entirely sure what or how to use it. I thought the ending was almost too abrupt, and that the revelation had by John David Washington was rushed, and not quite earned. We see nearly every person in this film touch this piano, and they can all play some. While August Wilson is known for being a legendary playwright, if you are going to transcribe his work for film, there has to be some small freedom to make changes to add to the reason people are in a movie theater and not watching actors on a stage. But, if it is your debut, it is hard to know what risks to take. You either play it safe, or make wildly new choices hoping the unexpected direction will work. I’m not sure this is quite on the level of Fences, but I am certain it is about damn time to give Danielle Detweiler that Oscar nomination.
In terms of the audio description, my biggest complaint was that in any given scene I didn’t fully understand how visible the ghost was. It matters more toward the end, but I did feel like more choices could have been made there. For more, check out the video.
