4/5
How To Get Away With Your Life.
Finding yourself in this life is hard to do. Especially if you've grown-up under the hand of poverty, physical abuse, racism and sexism. From the home to Hollywood. Still 'Fences', 'How To Get Away With Murder' and 'The Woman King' actress Viola Davis has survived and strived through all this like the Queen that she is. And now living to tell a tale that's still being told, she gives us her Oprah's Book Club choice autobiography 'Finding Me: A Memoir'. Sure, this book came out in April, just as the cherry blossom was dropping. But this fall you can't find a better book (although I'll let you know about 'The Storyteller' Dave Grohl, foo fighting) under your tree come December 25th.
Besides, it's fitting right now like Viola Davis' name in an envelope. EGOT (oh hey, Legend). That's what the first African-American to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting is about to get. The Tony's for 'Fences' and again the Oscar for her Academy Award-winning adaptation of the August Wilson play with Denzel Washington. The Emmy for getting away with murder. And the Grammy to come for this amazing autobiography audiobook that has joined me on the last month of mornings after the announcement of the nominations in November. Viola Davis should read children's books. Her voice is just that important and nurturing to the right side of history we should all be getting on.
One of the TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People and number nine on The New York Times' list of the greatest actors of the 21st century is a real hero and real human being whose superpower has headlined everything from DC pictures (the 'Suicide Squad' movies to 'Black Adam'. Still here in the major overhaul of Gunn's ownership (sorry, Supes, that sucks)), to Chadwick Boseman's last movie (Netflix's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'. Her show and another from August). Yet her latest ('The Woman King') of a real hero may just be her biggest and best blockbuster. We'd love an expanded epilogue reprise on this film to mark the EG(rammy)OT certification for the Queen who owns the crown like a 'Game Of Thrones'.
But the ever versatile Viola's most powerful performance may be here in the words she wrote on her life script. Infused with an influence of inspiration and passion. As this is no act. This is the real deal like an uncompromising and unflinching Davis always is. This is real life. Real love like J. Blige. Mother Mary, how this autobiography sings to me. Give her the Grammy already. You want to peak over the 'Fences'? Know what she really thought of 'The Help'? Or the whole, I didn't 'Get Away With Murder', but if I did, here's how I'd have done it from this incredible character, always killing it with her acting? It's all here to read all about like a sandwich board. No Hollywood gossip, just love for the craft. In a world that's strangely devoid of actor autobiographies (Matthew McConaughey's 'Green Lights' of 2020 appearing to be both the most recent and first in absolute years). Musicians, sure. There's lyrics worth. But actors. Maybe they care more than that cliché that says it's all about themselves.
Not a note of narcissism, the best book and most moving memoir since Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' (I have Barack's waiting for me when I get home this Christmas after a three-year lockdown induced wait) is all about helping others own their story and rise from all that tries to keep them down, just like the epically empowering Viola Davis has done. Want a quotable like the ones from the greatest artists and activists of our time that adorn these chapters? This whole book is full of these affirmations in black and white, like the portrait of this hardcover staring at you with the warmth of reassurance. Sure the musings of working with Meryl Streep and the memories of the late, great Philip Seymour strike a beautiful chord, no doubt. But it's no name-drop. And it's the family matters and those that stir the soul at the heart of this book and life still being lived to the upmost full. From watching her mother being beaten, to living with rats. To wishing upon the love of her life and becoming a star in the Hollywood Hills. It's all from the grace of God, who is a woman after all. One that looks like the same beautiful dark skin that was once told they wouldn't make it in this town. Right before they ran it like those old misogynistic, dinosaur notions out. This woman's work and worth is one of a warrior. You can find it in 'Me'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Reading: 'Michelle Obama-Becoming', 'Alicia Keys-More Myself: A Journey', 'Matthew McConaughey-Green Lights'.
