Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Actuakers One of my all time favorites.

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

MovieHoliks I recently saw the Jimi Hendrix biopic, "All Is By My Side", which was only about a small part of his life so not sure you can really call it a complete biographical portrait- plus, none of his music was included, which made the film feel a little short-changed. With "Get On Up", a biopic about legend James Brown, you don't have either of those problems. Mick Jagger produced and Tate Taylor ("The Help") directed this biopic with Chadwick Boseman ("42") in the lead role. Like with Andre Benjamin as Hendrix, Boseman doesn't really look like JB, but he does a great job capturing his essence, and certainly has his moves down. And like with another biopic "Ray", "Get On Up" does not sugar-coat Brown, but portrays him in a not-so-great light a lot of the time. One of my fav. Brit actors, Lennie James, is good as JB's father, which sheds some light on his violent tendencies, as well as Viola Davis as Susie Brown, JB's mother. Brandon Mychal Smith was also good as Little Richard, who had a small but key role in mentoring Brown in his early success. And Dan Aykroyd was awesome as Ben Bart, the President of Universal Attractions Agency who eventually becomes JB's business partner. Fred Melamed had the funniest scene in the film when he gets up and physically demonstrates why Brown should stay out of business decision-making! LMFAO!! Craig Robinson, Allison Janney and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer also star.

Irishchatter This movie, I have to say, actually made all the scenes in the right order. Why I didn't give it another star was because, at the beginning of the film, I couldn't hear the singing coming from Chadwick Boseman's mouth. It was such a silly mistake from the sound people involved in this movie! They should really have been more organised. However at least, it was only one hiccup in the film to be disappointed of.Y'know this film has taught me a lot of the real James Brown. Yes he did have 4 wives but that's not the point I'm making. I'm saying the film is showing me what the person he is inside. He seems to me like he's this crazy coyote who wants to get his own way. Who wouldn't? I have to admit, it was quite scary that he brought a gun to his record offices like I thought he was gonna kill that woman! He may have gotten problems but he's still a talented legend to look up to. It's sad that he left this world on Christmas day 2006. RIP godfather of Soul ♡

Allen Williams Chadwick Boseman does an amazing job playing James Brown...His performance deserved an Oscar Nod...But what I loved even more was the story...I never realized the kind of trials and tribulations the real James Brown had apparently gone through...James brown always came off like this untouchable super star without a care in the world...And I guess in someways...He was...But there was so much more to him than I ever dreamed...And this movie showcases it all in the most professional and respectful way...Normally, I don't like it when characters in movies do what is known as "Breaking the 4th wall"...But the filmmakers even handled that with class and gracefulness suitable for The Godfather Of Soul... From start to finish...This was an amazing film...And that's all there is too it...

vincentlynch-moonoi This is not an easy movie for me to review. For starters, I don't like the music of James Brown at all. Sure, growing up when I did I was aware of him and his music. But that was not any reason for me to watch this movie. And in fact, despite perhaps understanding who James Brown was a little better, this movie didn't make me like who he was as a person anymore than I did before. After watching this film I simply see James Brown as a man who overestimated the importance of his musical genre, and had no perspective about his personal importance. It appears that he alienated virtually everyone who associated with him. However, I must give him credit for coming from as poor and underprivileged and abusive background as one could come from and his mark in the world.Then there's the film itself. I liked it a lot except TOO MANY FLASHBACKS; flashbacks are often overdone, as they are here. Yes, flashbacks were needed in this film, but they could have been better done. And the penultimate scene with his mother was totally out of place. The look into various aspects of southern Black life at a certain point in history was fascinating.But then there's what I watched the film for -- the performance of Chadwick Boseman. Mark my words: if this young actor selects roles carefully, I believe he will be one of the finest and most acclaimed actors in American cinema.There are other fine performances here -- Dan Ackroyd is perfect as the promoter. Viola Davis is superb in the thankless role of James Brown's mother. Octavia Spencer is wonderful as "Aunt Honey". I was also very impressed by Nelsan Ellis.But in the end, the film is a tour de force for Chadwick Boseman. I'm not sure there ever was a biopic with a more impressive performance.