Get on Up - Chadwick Boseman Was On It!

Most people I know will see or have seen Get on Up:  a biopic about The Godfather of Soul, James Brown.  The movie is fun, energetic, and entertaining.  A James Brown fan will enjoy the movie even if the story wasn't very well told or directed.

But, Chadwick Boseman does such a fantastic job as James Brown that you are so enthralled into the movie, you almost miss that lack on continuity in the plot.  Chadwick has his voice and his moves down to a tee.  He was exciting on the stage.  Mr. Boseman as Mr. Brown made me wish I was born in that era to experience The Godfather in person.  Even with the bad make-up and horrible lacefront, Chadwick brought James' essence to the big screen like no other.  I really can't imagine anyone else playing the part better.

The magnificent Viola Davis, plays Susie Brown, James's mother.  Her part is so small that just about anyone could have done it, and Chadwick Boseman acted so well, that he stole the scene from the two-time Academy Award nominee. Fellow nominee, Octavia Spencer, is Aunt Honey.  Aunt Honey, the owner of a whore house, takes care of James.  Dan Aykroyd is James Brown's manager, and Nelsan Ellis, plays James' best friend and back-up singer, Bobby Byrd.  Nelsan is such a fantastic actor.  He's my favorite character on True Blood, and I think he and Chadwick will both have a long career in this business.

With all of these seasoned actors and actresses, you would think that a better story could have been written.  I got what the writers, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, were trying to do, but it just wasn't executed well.  A true story really wasn't told.  We got glimpses into James Brown's life, and there were heartfelt moments, but it wasn't cohesive (sorry, I just finished watching Project Runway).  An example, James Brown gets upset about someone using his bathroom, so he gets a gun and threatens a room full of people.  We never learned why that upset him so much.  Luckily, there was funky music and a great actor to help push all of that aside.  I guess sometimes you don't need a good story, just good entertainment.  Chadwick Boseman as James Brown was just that in Get on Up.  He would have made Mr. Brown proud.