Truly Dreadful Film

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. Get on Up is a film that i truly respect not just as a biography about a very talented singer but also packs one strong performance Chadwick Boseman, Viola Davis, Dan Aykroyd and Lennie James. It shows James Brown's life as it truly was with both the good side and the bad side with very interesting characters, pacing and some great songs playing in the background and it's really sad to see the film have such a low score here on IMDb with a 6.9 this definitely deserves at least a 7.7 or a 7.9 everyone did one hell of a job and gave some amazing performances.

Chadwick Boseman might not be perfect but hell, James Brown was unique so who could ever recapture his essence? His dance moves are on the button and only once does his strut look more like Prince than JB. The storyline may not be as fleshed out as 'Ray' (one or two clichés) but the soundtrack is great and the classic concerts faithfully recreated. We learn (like we didn't already know) that JB was a flawed human being but we see the torments of his early life so when he abuses his partners and cheats his musicians we are almost (I say almost) sympathetic. In the end he was one of the world's greatest showmen and band leaders, but finally pushed his band to breaking point and I applaud them for going solo (and making some stupendous records without him in the various JBs/Maceo/Wesley incarnations)

Get On Up directed by Tate Taylor and produced by Mick Jagger and Brian Grazer tells you the "from rags to riches" story of James Brown. With Chadwick Boseman performing a brilliant and breathtaking portrait of the The Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Influencing several musicians of many generations during his six decades as one of the most hard working artists in the business. Nobody within music is untouched by The King of Funk. Follow his journey from musician group The Famous Flames, his first meeting with the Rolling Stones, his companionship with manager Ben Bart played by Dan Aykroyd and all the way to the top of the billboards. An inspirational biography of a man reaching the top during some very hard and tough times in a divided America. The Funk don't Quit" – James "The Sex Machine" Brown

Super Glossy and Glossing Over most Things, this Biopic of the "Godfather of Soul", James Brown, is a Hit and Miss Missed Opportunity Packaged and Paraded out as another Tame African-American "Success" Story. The Movie's Groove comes from the Good Interpretation of the Soul Singer (by Chadwick Boseman). Mr. Brown, who came from the Dirt Poor South and His Style became Infectious to White-Bread Teen-America, as it Crossed Over from the Soul and R&B to the Pop Charts bringing a Unique Sound and a Dynamic Stage Presence.But the Movie is a Suffering. It Strains to be "acceptable" with all aspects of the Icon's Personality. His Struggles with Ego, Women, Money, and Drugs are Presented in a "People Magazine" Coating of Gloss without any Deep Consideration just Mention.The Music is Interesting for Newbies to Explore and Fans to Revisit, and the Onstage Mr. Brown is a Believable Recreation. But the Director is frequently Inconsistent with Awkward Time-Shifting, Fourth Wall Breaking, and a Desire to make it all so Palatable. Truth Is, James Brown, the Man, was Hardly Likable Like this Treatment.He was Raw and Routinely Rowdy and when the Movie Ventures into the Violence or the Flamboyant Ego, or the Tyranny Towards His Band-Mates it Never Penetrates it just Cuddles Uncomfortably. The Signature On Stage Slow Exit and Return Donning and Removing His Cape Endlessly while Singing His First and Fan Favorite Hit "Please, Please, Please" is presented so Quick and Thrown Away, it becomes a Glaring Gap in the Understanding of its Power and Newness. The Opening "Shotgun to the Ceiling" Scene is so Cringe Worthy it is Embarrassing, much like the Ending "Police Chase". In Fact, These Bookends are So Bad it is a Wonder that the rest of the Movie Holds Up as Well as it Does.Overall, Not Awful, but Nothing Approaching the "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud" Feel the Film should Have Felt. As is, it Feels Ironically, Not Fully, but Frequently, Soul Less.