‘The Piano Lesson’ 2024 Review

In addition to the strong supernatural elements, the film also has beautiful, realistic character moments that show the pain nearly every character carries with them on a daily basis and their desire to grow beyond their position and towards something bigger. This is not just what Boy Willie wants, but also Lymon, Berniece, his uncle Winning Boy (Michael Potts), and Avery Brown (Corey Hawkins), a friend of the Charles family who had his eye on Berniece. Almost every actor has a scene or two to make it easier, embellishing Wilson's original through impressive adaptations by Virgil Williams and Malcolm Washington. 

John David Washington takes advantage of this moment to take Boy Willie off the stage (where he co-starred with Jackson) and is the only one who doesn't really feel his situation beyond his difficult pleas and his consultation with Berenice. But his co-star, Ray Fisher, gives the film's astonishing performance, giving Lymon the grace and kindness of a simple man who doesn't want to be alone in his own world. As his story is told in the film, this beautiful, strong man (his arms are about to burst through his shirt, which he carries from scene to scene) becomes a tragic story about the lonely people in our lives. More open, but the world isn't ready for it yet.

Speaking of open hearts, Deadwyler and Hawkins appear in a scene midway through the film, when Berniece and Avery are arguing, which shows the incredible range of both actors and our ability to believe in their complicated relationship. Berniece may not seem interested in staying married to Avery after losing her ex-lover (and Boy Willie's best friend) Crowley. Deadwyler is brilliant in embodying the grief of a woman whose love may never be reunited, and Hawkins is brilliant in conveying his love for her, even though their two ships in the night will never meet. Deadwyler's overall performance in The Piano is nothing short of a transcendent and wonderful representation of a woman who, despite her difficulties, has been through it all and is trying to survive until the next day to make a better place for herself and her daughter. Hart's past is what keeps him at odds with himself. Her contribution to the final moments of the film is formidable and her portrayal of Berniece sets a new standard for portraying this character in the future. A great piece of work that will likely be among the best performances by each actor this year. You can find this film on myflixer movies.