ACTOR CHADWICK BOSEMAN GETS THE MOVES JUST RIGHT AS JAMES BROWN IN 'GET ON UP'
The musical giant that is soul music legend and icon James Brown has finally, after several unsuccessful attempts, including by director Spike Lee, had his eventful and colourful life story make its way to the silver screen. Indeed, plans were afoot while the Godfather of Soul was still alive, but unfortunately his sad departure on Christmas Day 2006 meant he would never see the project completed. A situation fairly similar to his contemporary, singer Ray Charles, who although had full knowledge of his award winning 'Ray' biopic being made, passed away in June 2004, a mere 4 months before its American release. The green light was given by Hollywood for the JB biography, 'Get On Up' after The Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger got involved, acting as producer, working alongside Oscar winner Brian Grazer, who had produced yet another music based drama, '8 Mile' which starred the rapper Emimen, looking at his early beginnings in urban Detroit. Fresh from making 'The Help', Tate Taylor came on board as director, and with a first rate cast attached, including Chadwick Boseman (last seen as US baseball hero Jackie Robinson in the sports flick '42'), who gives a near note-perfect performance as James Brown, catching all the grunting, hollering, screaming, laughing, singing and dancing in equal measure. He is a total delight to watch. Capturing the essence of the man, who at any moment could change his emotion from unadulterated joy to pure rage at the drop of a hat, displaying that sense of danger which always seem to be lurking under his exterior. As an actor not trained in dance whatsoever, Boseman rose to the challenge, admirably emulating Brown's exciting and unique dexterity when performing live, the spins, the shimmy-shuffle, the leg movements, the dance steps incorporating the microphone and of course the splits to the ground that all punctuated the heady and frantic funky rhythms, which gave an excellent impression of what it might have been like to have seen the real man himself in his heyday.
'Get On Up' chooses to tell the James Brown story in non linear fashion, instead switching time periods in regular intervals which, offering glimpses, significant moments in the often turbulent and troubled life of the soul singer, trying to explain the workings of a black man, born in abject poverty in the plainly racist American south of 1933, who rose not only to become one of the greatest living entertainers of all time, practically inventing a new genre in music, namely funk, building an empire in the process, but had his fair share of misery and downfall. What could make such a man who seem to have it all, talent ,money, fame and adulation endure such demons beneath the surface of his soul? This seems to be the main message of the film. We first encounter a drug fuelled Brown in 1988, armed and angry. Talking straight to camera, he informs us with conviction, "You may not know me, but every record you got has got a piece of me in it." From here we are transported to see a little infant JB running around a broken down shack in the backwoods of South Carolina. It is here we discover the broken relationship with his parents, the wayward mother (Viola Davis) who would abandon Brown at a young tender age and the tyrannical father (Lennie James) who would eventually leave the youth with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer) to raise, albeit in a brothel.
'Get On Up' chooses to tell the James Brown story in non linear fashion, instead switching time periods in regular intervals which, offering glimpses, significant moments in the often turbulent and troubled life of the soul singer, trying to explain the workings of a black man, born in abject poverty in the plainly racist American south of 1933, who rose not only to become one of the greatest living entertainers of all time, practically inventing a new genre in music, namely funk, building an empire in the process, but had his fair share of misery and downfall. What could make such a man who seem to have it all, talent ,money, fame and adulation endure such demons beneath the surface of his soul? This seems to be the main message of the film. We first encounter a drug fuelled Brown in 1988, armed and angry. Talking straight to camera, he informs us with conviction, "You may not know me, but every record you got has got a piece of me in it." From here we are transported to see a little infant JB running around a broken down shack in the backwoods of South Carolina. It is here we discover the broken relationship with his parents, the wayward mother (Viola Davis) who would abandon Brown at a young tender age and the tyrannical father (Lennie James) who would eventually leave the youth with his grandmother (Octavia Spencer) to raise, albeit in a brothel.
MICK JAGGER IN DEEP CONVERSATION WITH THE REAL JAMES BROWN
We follow Brown on his journey from straying into a gospel church as a child and being thoroughly enthralled by the joyous atmosphere of the dancing congregation, and more importantly by the spiritual fever and total showmanship of the preacher, instructing all to 'Get on down!! Feel the power of the Lord". Understanding the power of such a combined feeling, feeding both the soul and the groove, this would be the template for Brown for his entire career. While in prison for petty crime in his teens, Brown meets a young man, influenced by music just like himself, Bobby Byrd (Nelsan Ellis) who will eventually become his right hand man. Together they form an r&b group called The Famous Flames, leading to a record contract, which in turn causes major friction and internal problems.Problems within Brown's musical unit would be a common occurrence, with band members leaving him over disputes mainly over money and his excessive tight reign. A key figure in Brown's professional life is his booking agent and manager Ben Bart (Dan Aykroyd, who appeared with the real James Brown in the 1980 John Landis directed musical comedy 'The Blues Brothers'), who helps him achieve his goal of becoming a hugely successful artist.
Several key scenes struck a note such as the emotional moment when Brown was confronted backstage at the Apollo Theatre, after a successful show, by the mother who had left him years before. It was quite obvious, even with his huge ego on display, he still retained the pain of loss of her departure. A marvellous moment Brown's show stopping performance on The T.A.M.I. (Teen Age Music International) TV show in 1964, with The Rolling Stones as headliners, much to the annoyance of JB are included, along with an extraordinary recreation of the concert James Brown and his backing band, The J.B.'s did in Chicago, the very next night following the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, much against the wishes of the authorities, fearing a riot. While his popularity was soaring, talking to Presidents and visiting soldiers in Vietnam, Brown's own personal life was at times in turmoil, his inner demons causing him to treat all around him in certain situations in a hostile manner. His band members had to obey his orders at all times and his women better do the same. Meanwhile his output of infectious funky music churned out classic after classic. He was determined to record and play the music as he heard it in his head, believing rhythm was the key, in effect treating all the instruments as a drum.
The performances of the whole cast of 'Get On Up' are sharp and entertaining. James Brown fans will love the music which is played throughout. Noteworthy is the fact some of the sounds heard are taken from JB shows that have never been released, thanks in part to the Brown Estate. In all a film worthy of the legendary singer with a simply amazing central performance by Chadwick Boseman as 'Soul Brother No. 1'
a
Several key scenes struck a note such as the emotional moment when Brown was confronted backstage at the Apollo Theatre, after a successful show, by the mother who had left him years before. It was quite obvious, even with his huge ego on display, he still retained the pain of loss of her departure. A marvellous moment Brown's show stopping performance on The T.A.M.I. (Teen Age Music International) TV show in 1964, with The Rolling Stones as headliners, much to the annoyance of JB are included, along with an extraordinary recreation of the concert James Brown and his backing band, The J.B.'s did in Chicago, the very next night following the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, much against the wishes of the authorities, fearing a riot. While his popularity was soaring, talking to Presidents and visiting soldiers in Vietnam, Brown's own personal life was at times in turmoil, his inner demons causing him to treat all around him in certain situations in a hostile manner. His band members had to obey his orders at all times and his women better do the same. Meanwhile his output of infectious funky music churned out classic after classic. He was determined to record and play the music as he heard it in his head, believing rhythm was the key, in effect treating all the instruments as a drum.
The performances of the whole cast of 'Get On Up' are sharp and entertaining. James Brown fans will love the music which is played throughout. Noteworthy is the fact some of the sounds heard are taken from JB shows that have never been released, thanks in part to the Brown Estate. In all a film worthy of the legendary singer with a simply amazing central performance by Chadwick Boseman as 'Soul Brother No. 1'
a
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