A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
In a film full of fancy stage footwork, Get On Up spends a lot of energy sidestepping and excusing Brown’s worst behaviour.
One word perfectly describes Tate Taylor’s James Brown biopic: funky.
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.
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.
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.
Might lack focus, but there’s certainly no shortage of funk.
Handsomely mounted and energetically played, this movie captures much of the real genius of James Brown... then obscures it with needless chronological fiddling.
There's more drama in one track from Live at the Apollo than 139 long minutes of this.
These sequences work like jump leads on the sagging narrative.
There’s no funk in the trunk of this tedious biopic of James Brown.
Verdict: Pitch-perfect biopic.
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.
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I got the feelin'--Chadwick Boseman on playing James Brown
General release. Check local listings for show times.