Yes, most definitely.
Before sharing my thoughts on "The Piano Lesson", I should start by mentioning that I have neither read the original play by August Wilson nor seen it performed live in any theater. This film, directed by Malcolm Washington, is my first encounter with the material and its story. Therefore, my reflections will be based solely on the movie I just watched.
With that said, I must admit that the movie started off strong, instantly capturing my excitement and curiosity about the drama that would unfold around the titular "piano". However, as the film progressed, my interest gradually waned, and by the end, I was completely disengaged as a viewer. I attribute this to what I believe is one of the film's biggest flaws: its unnecessarily long runtime. The pacing drags noticeably, and you feel it. A 90-minute runtime would have sufficed, and I would even argue that a 40-minute short could have been the perfect length to tell this story effectively.
However, for me, the issues go beyond just the runtime. Perhaps the story simply isn't for me, or maybe it wasn't translated effectively in this adaptation. Either way, while watching this particular film, I couldn't help but find it overall quite dull and tiresome.
The story within the story, which depicts the origin of the piano, was fascinating to watch. In fact, I could easily see myself far more engaged with an entire movie dedicated solely to that narrative! However, everything that takes place in the "present day" - the main plot involving the family debating whether to sell the piano or not - felt tedious and stagnant by comparison.
Nothing truly moves the plot forward. "The Piano Lesson" delivers two hours of needless and repetitive arguments between family and friends. While these exchanges might initially seem meaningful, they quickly become overdone, dragging the narrative to the point of frustration and even inducing a headache.
The movie certainly has its merits. However, why do I consider it Oscar bait? Because it's evident while watching how much the actors - particularly John David Washington - are acting to the point of overacting. His performance feels so labored, as though he's straining every moment to earn a nomination. This effort becomes so apparent that what he delivers on screen ceases to feel natural and instead comes across as exaggerated, ultimately breaking the immersion.
For those familiar with the play, the film might resonate differently. However, for someone like me, who came to it with no prior knowledge, I have to be honest - there isn't much here to praise.
