Review of Get On Up (2014) by Colin C — 19 Nov 2014
If not for future Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman's pretty spot on performance of the Godfather of Soul, I would have rated Get On Up lower. When doing a bio pic it is very challenging (and you almost never succeed) covering a person's life in 2 hours and change.
Especially if that someone is James Brown. Thw biggest problem is the screenplay by John Henry and Jaz Butterworth is very episodic with no real throughline. Yes the first 15 minutes were engaging and funky! But once the biopic settles down into "I have seen this before" it really becomes slices of James' life.
Okay, here's JB beating his wife. Here's JB as an abandoned black child. Etc. Films like Ray and the upcoming Selma just work better when they focus on a pivotal point in that legend's life.
Stand out here is also True Blood's Nelson Ellis as best friend Bobby Byrd. It's not a bad picture. It's a just a little too sanitized and I did not enjoy the breaking of the fourth wall. That said, I would not be surprised to see Boseman grab a nomination.
His performance is fairly mesmerizing. Three Ball Point Pens. So says the Geek.
This review of Get On Up (2014) was written by Colin C on 19 Nov 2014.
Get On Up has generally received positive reviews.
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