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‘The Piano Lesson’: This Washington Family Affair Doesn’t Quite Nail It

The second movie based on the August Wilson play has one too many unforced errors.
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‘The Piano Lesson’: This Washington Family Affair Doesn’t Quite Nail It
Doaker Charles (Samuel L. Jackson) contemplates the piano, in "The Piano Lesson." Netflix
Michael Clark
Updated:
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PG-13 | 2h 5m | Drama | 2024

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 play by August Wilson, “The Piano Lesson” is a movie that gets close to being “stage-bound.” This is a work for the stage, when the action on stage may take place in one or two rooms, that falters when adapted to film.

Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Author
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.