Cast: Chadwick A Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Lennie James

Director: Tate Taylor

To some the title of this film might sound odd, but those who know the music of James Brown, ‘Get on Up (I Feel Like Being Like a Sex Machine)’ is one of Brown’s all time classics. There are loads of songs in the film that tells of the life and times of the music legend played by Chadwick Boseman taking the role of James Brown.

The extremely great biopic of the Godfather of Soul, gives a fearless look inside the music, moves, humor and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey to profile the man from his footsteps as a young lad where he was abandoned by his mother and father at a young age. He (literally) came from nothing, and later after tasting success made a life of utter excess.

It was in prison, where Brown met Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis), an R & B singer and pianist who later helped him get out and into a musical career. With fire in his belly and being extremely daring, Brown dumped his band mates who supported him in his early years to get himself signed on a record label and make a solo career. Brown had his own lifestyle of ups and down, with many controversial episodes too. He had a knack for hitting the headlines as often as the charts. One of the many problems Brown faced was with band mate Bobby Byrd the founder of The Flames and the man who is credited with the discovery of James Brown. As one of the longest-serving members of the group, Byrd and Brown parted ways due to personal issues. The film shows in detail the ongoing animosity between Brown and Byrd who actually helped to inspire the musical aspirations of Brown, who launched his career with Byrd.

Boseman is superb at conveying the charisma that helped make Brown a hero to millions. A must watch for music lovers and those who loved the bio pic ‘Ray’ (Ray Charles).

Rating: ****

-  Reviewed by Verus Ferreira