Forget for a moment how frustrating it is that Pariah director Dee Rees hasn't become a household name yet. We can probably look to Ava Duvernay as the example of what indie filmmakers, particularly directors who are African-American women, can do when given a chance to paint on a larger canvas. That said, Rees has an immensely exciting project over at HBO in Bessie, her Bessie Smith biopic starring Queen Latifah.
A brief teaser and images have been released from the bluesy film, which tracks the career of legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, the most popular female artist of the 1920s through the "Swing Era" of the 1930s. Latifah seems like a perfect fit both in style and voice for the title role, while the cast around her is strong with Michael K. Williams, Mike Epps, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Charles Dutton, Tika Sumpter, and oh look Mo'Nique got herself a gig.
Bessie sings the blues for HBO on May 16th.
