Review of Get On Up (2014) by Jennifer L — 02 Jul 2015

Chadwick Boseman is absolutely brilliant as James Brown in this biopic that gives us a behind the scenes look at the iconic musician/songwriter with the moves that inspired so many after him. Boseman & Young Scott gives James Brown a depth in their performance that helps you empathize with his tough early life before becoming the superstar you know him as today.

Everyone has their story, but Brown's story is one of triumph. James Brown was not just a musician but a shrewd business man with a brilliant strategy for his career shared with his friend & manager Ben Bart.

Brown's life was a complicated one filled with complicated relationships with his friends, family, & the women who loved him. Brown's style & famous dance moves fill a colorful stage of music performances over the span of his life.

This movie was well directed, shot, and paced so you get this peek into James Brown's life with a sense of the sacrifices & losses he endured to survive in a time when racism & politics had to be navigated carefully.

A great movie, definitely a classic. It does not disappoint.