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Get On Up (12A)

Biography, Drama, Music

A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.


The critical consensus

In a film full of fancy stage footwork, Get On Up spends a lot of energy sidestepping and excusing Brown’s worst behaviour.

**(*)(*)(*)Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 17/11/2014

One word perfectly describes Tate Taylor’s James Brown biopic: funky.

****(*)James Mottram, The List, 17/11/2014

Energising, stylish and engrossing, although its scattershot chronology and egocentric approach might not be to everyone;s taste. Still, Boseman is brilliant - it would be madness if he isn't among the Oscar runners this season.

****(*)Dan Jolin, Empire Online, 17/11/2014

The film tapers off in its final reel, ending on a conventional note – but not before it has done its best to capture its subject in all his manic and absurd glory.

****(*)Geoffrey MacNab, The Independent, 20/11/2014

The music gives you some big, sugar-rush moments, but it’s a disappointing response to one of pop culture’s most brilliant and complicated figures.

**(*)(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 20/11/2014

Might lack focus, but there’s certainly no shortage of funk.

**(*)(*)(*)Stephen Carty, Flix Capacitor, 20/11/2014

Handsomely mounted and energetically played, this movie captures much of the real genius of James Brown... then obscures it with needless chronological fiddling.

***(*)(*)Andrew Lowry, Games Radar, 17/11/2014

There's more drama in one track from Live at the Apollo than 139 long minutes of this.

**(*)(*)(*)David Jenkins, Little White Lies, 21/11/2014

These sequences work like jump leads on the sagging narrative.

***(*)(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 21/11/2014

There’s no funk in the trunk of this tedious biopic of James Brown.

**(*)(*)(*)Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 22/11/2014

Verdict: Pitch-perfect biopic.

****(*)Brian Viner, Daily Mail, 21/11/2014

It’s stirring scattershot stuff, made with a fine eye for period detail and an evident passion for the music, which remains the driving force throughout.

****(*)Mark Kermode, The Observer, 23/11/2014


Features about Get On Up (12A)

James Brown biopic Get On Up: Chadwick Boseman is the man

John Patterson, The Guardian, 15/11/2014

James Brown biopic Get On Up shows 'warts and all'

Emma Jones, BBC, 19/11/2014

I got the feelin'--Chadwick Boseman on playing James Brown

Steve Rose, The Guardian, 20/11/2014

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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