The Piano Lesson (2024 film)

Last updated

The Piano Lesson
The Piano Lesson poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by Malcolm Washington
Screenplay by
Based on The Piano Lesson
by August Wilson
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Mike Gioulakis
Edited by Leslie Jones
Music by Alexandre Desplat
Production
companies
Distributed by Netflix
Release dates
  • August 31, 2024 (2024-08-31)(Telluride)
  • November 8, 2024 (2024-11-08)(United States)
  • November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)(Netflix)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Piano Lesson is a 2024 American drama film directed by Malcolm Washington, who co-wrote the screenplay with Virgil Williams. It is an adaptation of the 1987 play by August Wilson. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins.

Contents

The Piano Lesson premiered at the 51st Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2024, and it was released in select theaters in the United States on November 8, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on November 22.

Premise

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the Great Depression, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor.

—  Deadline Hollywood [1]

Cast

Production

In September 2015, Denzel Washington announced that he would produce film adaptations of all of August Wilson's plays from the Pittsburgh Cycle series. Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom were released in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

It was announced in April 2023 that Malcolm Washington would make his feature directorial and screenwriting debut with the film, an adaptation of The Piano Lesson , with his brother John David Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Potts, and Corey Hawkins starring. [1] John David Washington, Jackson, Fisher and Potts reprise their roles from the 2022 stage production of the play. [2] Washington's father, Denzel, is producing the film with Todd Black. In May, singer Erykah Badu was announced to be making a cameo appearance in the film. [3] Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James, Malik J. Ali, Jay Peterson and Matrell Smith rounded out the cast in June 2023. [4]

Filming began in Atlanta in April 2023. [5] The Pittsburgh Film Office expressed disappointment that the production would not be filming in the city like previous Wilson adaptations. [6]

Release

The film's world premiere took place at the Telluride Film Festival, prior to its international premiere as a special presentation at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. [7] [8]

The Piano Lesson was released in select theaters in the United States on November 8, 2024, before streaming on Netflix on November 22. [9] [10]

Reception

Critical response

Danielle Deadwyler's performance in the film garnered critical acclaim. Danielle deadwyler 2023 2.jpg
Danielle Deadwyler's performance in the film garnered critical acclaim.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 88% of 110 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10.The website's consensus reads: "A Southern Gothic played at a ferocious key, The Piano Lesson brings August Wilson's words to vivid life with an outstanding ensemble." [11] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. [12]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Hamptons International Film Festival October 5, 2024Breakthrough Director Award Malcolm Washington Honored [13]
Mill Valley Film Festival October 5, 2024MVFF Acting Award Danielle Deadwyler Won [14]
Middleburg Film Festival October 20, 2024Breakthrough Actor AwardHonored [15]
Newport Beach Film Festival October 20, 2024Outstanding Performance FemaleWon [16]
Best U.S. NarrativeMalcolm WashingtonWon
SCAD Savannah Film Festival October 26, 2024Inaugural Ensemble AwardThe cast of The Piano Lesson [a] Honored [17]
Montclair Film Festival October 27, 2024Performance Award John David Washington Honored [18]
Breakthrough Director AwardMalcolm WashingtonHonored
Chicago International Film Festival October 27, 2024 Breakthrough AwardHonored [19]
Spotlight AwardJohn David WashingtonHonored
Denver Film Festival November 1, 2024Excellence in Writing AwardMalcolm Washington and Virgil Williams Honored [20]
Elle's Women in Hollywood Celebration November 19, 2024The WitnessDanielle DeadwylerHonored [21]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Ensemble Tribute The cast of The Piano Lesson [a] Honored [22]
Outstanding Supporting Performance Danielle DeadwylerNominated [23]
Astra Film Awards December 8, 2024 Best First FeatureMalcolm WashingtonNominated [24]
Best Supporting ActressDanielle DeadwylerNominated
Boston Society of Film Critics December 8, 2024 Best Supporting Actress Won [25]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 8, 2024 Best Supporting Actress Won [26]
Celebration of Cinema and Television December 9, 2024Actor Award – FilmJohn David WashingtonWon [27]
San Diego Film Critics Society December 9, 2024 Best Adapted Screenplay Malcolm Washington and Virgil WilliamsNominated [28]
Best Supporting Actress Danielle DeadwylerNominated
SFFILM Awards December 9, 2024George Gund III Award for VirtuosityMalcolm WashingtonHonored [29]
Chicago Film Critics Association December 12, 2024 Best Supporting Actress Danielle DeadwylerNominated [30]
St. Louis Film Critics Association December 15, 2024 Best First Feature FilmMalcolm WashingtonRunner-up [31]
Best Supporting Actress Danielle DeadwylerNominated [32]
Indiana Film Journalists Association December 16, 2024Best Adapted ScreenplayMalcolm Washington and Virgil WilliamsNominated [33]
Breakthrough of the YearMalcolm WashingtonNominated
Seattle Film Critics Society December 16, 2024 Best Supporting ActressDanielle DeadwylerNominated [34]
New York Film Critics Online December 16, 2024Best Supporting ActressRunner-up [35]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 18, 2024 Best Supporting Actress 4th place [36]
Pandora International Film Critics AwardsDecember 18, 2024Actress SupportNominated [37]
Filmmaking BreakthroughMalcolm WashingtonNominated
Alliance Of Women Film Journalist EDA Award January 2025 Best Supporting ActressDanielle DeadwylerPending [38]
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 3, 2025Malcolm WashingtonDirectors to WatchWon [39]
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards January 11, 2025 Best Intergenerational Movie The Piano LessonPending [40]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 12, 2025 Best Supporting Actress Danielle DeadwylerPending [41]
Satellite Awards January 26, 2025 Best Actress in a Supporting Role Pending [42]
African-American Film Critics Association February 19, 2025Best EnsembleThe cast of The Piano Lesson [a] Won [43]
Best Supporting ActressDanielle DeadwylerWon
Breakout Performance Award Ray Fisher Honored [44]
Emerging Director AwardMalcolm WashingtonHonored
Top 10 Films of the YearThe Piano Lesson3rd place [43]
Film Independent Spirit Awards February 22, 2025 Best First Feature Todd Black, Denzel Washington and Malcolm WashingtonPending [45]
Best Supporting Performance Danielle DeadwylerPending

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denzel Washington</span> American actor (born 1954)

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an American actor, producer, and director. Known for his dramatic roles on stage and screen, The New York Times named him the greatest actor of the 21st century in 2020. He has received several accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. Washington has been honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques Audiard</span> French film director and screenwriter

Jacques Audiard is a French film director, producer, and screenwriter. Over the course of his career, he has received numerous accolades including two British Academy Film Awards, eleven Cesar Awards and four prizes from the Cannes Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Butler</span> American actor (born 1991)

Austin Robert Butler is an American actor. Butler began his career on television, first in roles on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, most notably on Zoey 101 (2007–2008), and later on teen dramas, including recurring parts on The CW's Life Unexpected (2010–2011) and Switched at Birth (2011–2012). He gained recognition for starring in The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014) and The Shannara Chronicles (2016–2017). Butler made his Broadway debut in the 2018 revival of The Iceman Cometh and portrayed Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino's film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Brooks</span> American actress (born 1989)

Danielle Brooks is an American actress. Her breakthrough role was as prison inmate Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greta Lee</span> American actress (born 1983)

Greta Jiehan Lee is an American actress. She had supporting roles in the Netflix comedy-drama series Russian Doll (2019–2022) and the Apple TV+ drama series The Morning Show (2021–present). The latter earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She gained prominence for her starring role in the romantic drama film Past Lives (2023), for which she received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Deadwyler</span> American actress and writer (born 1982)

Danielle Deadwyler is an American actress. She began her career appearing on Atlanta stage, including in the 2009 production of For Colored Girls, and made her screen debut in the 2012 drama film A Cross to Bear. Deadwyler appeared in the primetime soap opera The Haves and the Have Nots (2015–2017), the drama series P-Valley (2020), and the miniseries Station Eleven (2021–2022) and From Scratch (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikey Madison</span> American actress

Mikaela Madison Rosberg is an American actress. She began her career acting in short films and received recognition for her role as a sullen teenager in the FX comedy series Better Things (2016–2022). Madison then played Susan Atkins in Quentin Tarantino's period comedy-drama film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and Amber Freeman in the horror film Scream (2022). She gained praise for playing the titular character in Sean Baker's romantic comedy-drama film Anora (2024), earning a nomination for a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomasin McKenzie</span> New Zealand actress

Thomasin Katherin Helen Harcourt McKenzie is a New Zealand actress. After a minor role in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014), she rose to critical prominence for playing a young girl living in isolation in Debra Granik's drama film Leave No Trace (2018), winning the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance.

<i>Maestro</i> (2023 film) Film by Bradley Cooper

Maestro is a 2023 American biographical romantic drama film that centers on the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. It was directed by Bradley Cooper, from a screenplay he wrote with Josh Singer. It was produced by Cooper, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Berner and Amy Durning. The film stars Carey Mulligan as Montealegre alongside Cooper as Bernstein; Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman appear in supporting roles.

<i>Rustin</i> (film) 2023 film by George C. Wolfe

Rustin is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by George C. Wolfe, from a screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, and a story by Breece about the life of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground, the film stars Colman Domingo in the title role, alongside Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, Gus Halper, CCH Pounder, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Johnny Ramey, Michael Potts, Jeffrey Wright, and Audra McDonald. It is based on the true story of Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington.

<i>Till</i> (film) 2022 film by Chinonye Chukwu

Till is a 2022 biographical drama film directed by Chinonye Chukwu and written by Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, and Chukwu, and produced by Beauchamp, Reilly, and Whoopi Goldberg. It is based on the true story of Mamie Till, an educator and activist who pursued justice after the murder of her 14-year-old son Emmett in August 1955. The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie and Jalyn Hall as Emmett. Kevin Carroll, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, Jayme Lawson, Tosin Cole, Sean Patrick Thomas, John Douglas Thompson, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Goldberg also appear in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriel LaBelle</span> Canadian actor (born 2002)

Gabriel LaBelle is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his leading role as young aspiring filmmaker Sammy Fabelman in Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans (2022), for which he received acclaim and won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer.

<i>May December</i> 2023 film by Todd Haynes

May December is a 2023 American black comedy drama film directed by Todd Haynes from a screenplay by Samy Burch, based on a story by Burch and Alex Mechanik. It stars Natalie Portman as an actress who travels to meet and study the life of Gracie, the controversial woman she is set to play in a film—a woman infamous for the 24-year-long relationship with her husband Joe, which began when he was 13 years old and she was 36.

<i>American Symphony</i> (film) 2023 film by Matthew Heineman

American Symphony is a 2023 American biographical documentary film, written, shot, and edited by Matthew Heineman. It explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, his music career, and his wife's struggle with leukemia.

<i>Emilia Pérez</i> 2024 film by Jacques Audiard

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 French musical crime comedy film written and directed by Jacques Audiard, based on Audiard's opera libretto of the same name, which was in turn loosely adapted from Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute. The film stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, and Édgar Ramírez, and is about a feared cartel leader who enlists a lawyer to help him disappear and achieve his dream of transitioning into a woman. Its original songs were written by Camille, while its original score was provided by Clément Ducol. The choreographic sections of the film are designed by Damien Jalet.

The 34th Annual Gotham Awards, presented by the Gotham Film & Media Institute, were held on December 2, 2024. The nominees were announced on October 29, 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 Grobar, Matt (April 13, 2023). "Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Danielle Deadwyler & More Set For Netflix's The Piano Lesson; Denzel Washington, Todd Black Producing". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ White, Abbey (April 27, 2022). "Ray Fisher Joins Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington in Cast of Broadway's 'The Piano Lesson'". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ Grobar, Matt (May 30, 2023). "The Piano Lesson: Erykah Badu Latest To Board Netflix's August Wilson Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 1, 2023). "Netflix's 'The Piano Lesson' Adds Gail Bean, Jerrika Hinton, Stephan James & Others". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  5. ↑ Carey, Adam (April 14, 2023). "Rain delays filming of 'The Piano Lesson' in the Between the Rivers District". Rome News-Tribune . Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ Axelrod, Joshua (April 13, 2023). "Netflix's The Piano Lesson adaptation breaks cycle by not filming in Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ Hammond, Pete (August 29, 2024). "Telluride Film Festival Lineup Includes 'Saturday Night', 'The Piano Lesson', 'Conclave' & 'Nickel Boys' World Premieres". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  8. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (July 22, 2024). "Toronto film festival adds Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Edward Burns, David Mackenzie titles". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on August 2, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Netflix [@netflix] (August 20, 2024). "The Piano Lesson directed by Malcolm Washington. Trailer tomorrow. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Ray Fisher, Michael Potts, Erykah Badu, Skyler Aleece Smith, Danielle Deadwyler, and Corey Hawkins" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ Asatryan, Tigran (August 20, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' Netflix Movie: Release Date & Everything We Know So Far". What's on Netflix. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Piano Lesson". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 7, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  12. ↑ "The Piano Lesson". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  13. ↑ McCracken, Kristin (August 28, 2024). "HIFF 2024: Conversations + Honorees". Hamptons International Film Festival. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  14. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (September 24, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' Star Danielle Deadwyler to Receive Mill Valley Film Fest Award (EXCLUSIVE)".
  15. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (September 26, 2024). "Middleburg Film Fest: 'Blitz' to Open, 'Nickel Boys' to Close, 'Sing Sing' Stars Among Honorees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  16. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (October 31, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' and 'The Last Journey' Land Top Audience Prizes at Newport Beach Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)".
  17. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (September 27, 2024). "'The Piano Lesson' Cast to Receive Inaugural Ensemble Award at SCAD Savannah Film Festival)".
  18. ↑ "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, Honors, & Creator Spotlight". Montclair Film . Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  19. ↑ Roche, Barbara (September 24, 2024). "60th Chicago International Film Festival full lineup and schedule". Reel Chicago News. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  20. ↑ Jones, Marcus (October 17, 2024). "Joan Chen, 'Saturday Night' Stars, and More Join Lineup of Denver Film Festival 2024 Award Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Women in Hollywood". Elle . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
    Ukiomogbe, Juliana (November 14, 2024). "History Is Speaking Through Danielle Deadwyler". Elle. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  22. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (September 18, 2024). "Gotham Awards: The Piano Lesson Cast Set for Ensemble Tribute (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  23. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (October 29, 2024). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'Anora' Leads Pack, 'Challengers' & 'Nickel Boys' Among Group Up For Best Feature". Deadline. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  24. ↑ Pond, Steve (November 25, 2024). "'Wicked' Leads Nominations for Astra Film Awards". TheWrap.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  25. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2024). "The 2024 Boston Society Of Film Critics (BSFC) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  26. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2024). "The 2024 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  27. ↑ "The Critics Choice Association Announces Full Slate of Honorees for the 7th Annual Celebration of Black Cinema and Television – Critics Choice Awards". November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  28. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 6, 2024). "The 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  29. ↑ "SFFILM Awards Night to Honor Denis Villeneuve, Demi Moore, Malcolm Washington, and Jason Reitman". SFFILM. November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  30. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 10, 2024). "The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  31. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2024). "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 8, 2024). "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  33. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 10, 2024). "The 2024 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  34. ↑ "2024 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations: 'The Brutalist,' 'Dune: Part Two,' 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'". AwardsWatch. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  35. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 16, 2024). "The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  36. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2024). "The 2024 Dallas Fort-Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA) Winners". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  37. ↑ Write, Robin (December 11, 2024). "'The Substance' and 'Nosferatu' Lead the Way with the 6th Pandora International Film Critics Awards Nominations". Filmotomy. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  38. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 12, 2024). "The 2024 Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) EDA Award Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  39. ↑ Gilchrist, Todd (November 19, 2024). "'The Substance,' 'The Piano Lesson,' 'Babygirl' Filmmakers Selected for Variety's 2025 Directors to Watch". Variety. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  40. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (November 20, 2024). "Movies for Grownups Awards: 'Conclave' Leads With 6 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  41. ↑ Davis, Clayton (December 12, 2024). "Critics Choice Awards Nominations: 'Conclave' and 'Wicked' Lead With 11 Nods Each".
  42. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 16, 2024). "The 2024 Satellite Award (IPA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  43. 1 2 Hipes, Patrick (December 13, 2024). "African American Film Critics Vote 'Nickel Boys' Its Best Picture Of 2024". Deadline. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  44. ↑ "African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) Honorees: 'Nickel Boys,' 'The Piano Lesson' Filmmakers and Casts and More". AwardsWatch. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  45. ↑ D'Alessandro, Alex (December 4, 2024). "Film Independent Spirit Awards 40th Edition Best Feature Nominees Include 'Anora', 'I Saw The TV Glow', 'Nickel Boys', 'Sing Sing' & 'The Substance'". Deadline. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.