Film Review: THE PIANO LESSON (2024): A Great Cast is on Display in Malcolm Washington’s Talky, Riveting and Moving Dramatic Film

The Piano Lesson Review

The Piano Lesson (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Malcolm Washington, written by Virgil Williams, August Wilson and Malcolm Washington and starring John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins, Michael Potts, Skylar Aleece Smith, Stephan James, Erykah Badu, Malik J Ali, Isaiah Gunn, Matrell Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean, Ellan Joseph, Pauletta Washington and Olivia Washington.

Filmmaker Malcolm Washington (Denzel’s son) directs a film version of the didactic August Wilson story, The Piano Lesson, in a slow-moving but riveting way that benefits from a cast of remarkable performers. This film builds to a disturbing climax that is frightening in its excesses but the opening scenes feel pretty ordinary which makes the later scenes all the more powerful as they teach us lessons of hope and heartbreak. John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler top line the new picture with stellar support from Samuel L. Jackson and a slew of other character actors.

For a movie that revolves around the prospect of selling a piano that isn’t being used, there are a lot of complex themes that implement themselves in Malcolm Washington’s compelling movie. The piano is a symbol of the struggles and difficulties that fell upon the central family (the Charles Family) the movie focuses on. Much of the film is set in the house where the piano resides. This is no ordinary piano. It is engraved with the very distinct faces of family members who have come before. This film opens in 1911 with the piano being stolen during Independence Day and then skips to 1936 where the main characters come together to discuss the prospects of selling it. Its formidable and tragic history hanging in the balance, there is sentimental value in keeping the piano present in the home it currently finds itself in.

John David Washington is the charismatic Boy Willie who arrives in Pennsylvania with his friend, Lymon (Ray Fisher) in order to get the piano to sell it for his own benefit of having land. Berniece (Danielle Deadwyler), Willie’s solemn and intense sister, won’t hear of it. Berniece resides with her daughter, Maretha (Skylar Aleece Smith). Meanwhile, the great Samuel L. Jackson portrays Uncle Doaker who can talk a lot and is, of course, very opinionated. Doaker and Wining Boy (Michael Potts) exchange tales that shed light on the characters within the picture. There appears to be a ghost or two lurking in the house but since that merely is a small fraction of the film, it’s not fair to discuss this element of the picture in detail.

All the performances here are solid. Corey Hawkins, as Avery, is a very commanding screen presence in this film. Avery is a preacher who takes a liking to Berniece and pushes hard on her despite Berniece’s reservations surrounding getting involved with anyone after her unfortunate past and sketchy present. Danielle Deadwyler commands the viewer’s attention and she is carefully kept off-screen for a portion of the film which makes the sections she does appear in that more powerful. There is a reason she wants the piano to stay put and, perhaps, it can have some significance in her family’s future that would be of greater value than selling it.

Also Denzel’s son, John David Washington, pulls out all the stops with a performance that demonstrates Willie’s one-dimensional way of seeing things. Willie develops as a character as the plot progresses and Washington masterfully captures that transformation on-screen. Washington has a knack for roles like this even though he has appeared in a couple of big budget would-be blockbusters that haven’t necessarily highlighted his best abilities thus far.

Samuel L. Jackson is an old pro and pulls off his performance with terrific zest and energy as he adds another sensational performance to his distinguished resume. Skylar Aleece Smith is perfectly cast as Berniece’s daughter and Smith and Deadwyler share some profoundly intriguing moments together here. Danielle Deadwyler is a sure thing for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod for her excellent and nuanced work in The Piano Lesson. She was snubbed for her terrific work in Till a couple of years back. That won’t happen again when the Academy Award nominations are announced for this year’s films.

While the new movie teaches the viewer one too many lessons, and occasionally moves at a snail’s pace in the earlier scenes, the suggestions the film makes are always thought-provoking and the characters manifest the points of the story through their very detailed dialogue. This is a talky film so be prepared for that. At the end, there are some revelations that could stir up intriguing discussions afterwards which makes The Piano Lesson a movie with a lot of meat on its thematic bones.

Rating: 7.5/10

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