When you think about the larger than life character & talents of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, it's hard to imagine how you could fit that size of a story into 138 minutes? This production, produced in part by Mick Jagger, manages to pull it off in a close to predictable fashion with a lot of funk. The absolute soul power of this movie goes without hesitation to Chadwick Boseman. While he does lip sync to the real James Brown's vocals, his on & off stage portrayal of him is as close as anyone could ever think of getting and he more than nails his speaking voice. With it being this early in the season, it's hard to call, but he may just have a one or a complete set of Oscar/Golden Globe/Screen Actors Guild nominations on the way. The film is directed by Tate Taylor who also directed "The Help" & he pays tribute to that success by casting Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer in key roles for this ensemble. Other large & strong performances by Dan Aykroyd & Nelsan Elllis, who you will recognize as "Lafayette" from True Blood. This is not his first big screen effort, but I have a feeling we will be seeing more of him in larger roles like this now that True Blood is just a few episodes from it's end. Big kudos go to the hair, makeup & costume department, they really knock it out of the park on all points. The obvious weak link in this movie is the screenplay by Jez & John-Henry Butterworth. They played it a little too safe & really stuck with the traditional biopic formula when they could have really gotten gritty in the style of "Ray". The story spends a little too much time on certain plot points & then has to rush to close several open doors. I think their credentials & past catalog of the writers were pretty weak for taking on this important story. But despite that "I Feel Good" about recommending that you see this movie in the theater soon, so "Get On Up". by Movie Cutie
