The Piano Lesson

Denzel Washington continues to fulfill his promise of putting as many August Wilson on film as he can. He produces here and his sons John David and Malcolm star and direct respectively. Virgil Williams collaborated with Malcolm on the screenplay adaptation.

Wilson's story is about a pair of siblings, Boy Willie (J. D. Washington) and Berniece (a very fine Danielle Deadwyler) who have inherited the family heirloom of a piano which has been hand-carved depicting their ancestors. Gaining possession of the instrument involves some mysterious and unpleasant truths. The cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins and Michael Potts. It's a strong ensemble who help 'open up' the play to cinematic form. It doesn't fully succeed in that aspect, but the drama is never less than interesting.

THE PIANO LESSON is a ghost story, both in a literal and figurative sense. The bravura climax, complete with an exorcism, brings the movie to a boil. In the end, the spirits are no match for the Charles family's eternal bonds.