Plot: What’s it about?
Is it possible to make a successful film based on James Brown and it not be rated R? Well, Get on up tried to do just that. Now, I don’t think a film’s rating is always an indication of a film’s quality, but in this case, it feels restricted. Brown’s life was certainly very R-rated. He is dubbed “The Godfather of Soul” in a very lengthy career. A lot of his songs are probably instantly recognizable to many. I don’t mind much of his music, but I am not his biggest fan by any stretch. The film begins in the 1980’s during a tense scene in which Brown holds a gun to attendees at a seminar. We are in the scene, but before long, the film jumps throughout the years without ever really diving into one particular time period. Chadwick Boseman plays Brown, and he is easily the best thing about the film. He does a more than exceptional job in the role even if the film is ultimately lackluster. I wish the film would’ve stuck with a chronological time frame rather than jump between years. I supposed the filmmakers thought this would add a bit of spice to the mix, but it starts to frustrate after a while. Any time I was close to getting involved, it kept cutting to a different era, often without much continuity.
It should be noted that Boseman lip syncs to a lot of Brown’s music. This was probably a smart move, but it can feel a bit off at times as well. The musical performances were nice, but if that’s the most I take away from a film then that’s not a good sign. I could easily just listen to his music on my own and not have to endure the film. There are also a few liberties taken with the facts also. For one, Brown’s mother abandoned him early in real life. The film shows him as a preteen being betrayed. Also, it only shows two of his marriages while he had four wives in real life. I don’t mind if a film changes a few things, but these seem like curious decisions. As mentioned, the PG-13 rating feels limited as well. For a film to accurately show Brown’s wild and often crazy life, it needed to dive head first into things. There’s not much to say about the film. The plot is thin and the musical performances make up for much of its (bloated) running time. Boseman does a good job, but the film did little for me. I still think there’s a great film that could be made about James Brown. This isn’t it, unfortunately.
Video: How’s it look?
Filmed in a less and less common 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the AVC encoded transfer does sparkle on Blu-ray. This biopic spans several decades with some of the sequences in the 60’s showing a little less color, though when on stage there’s no denying that the picture quality is nothing short of excellent. Detail is immaculate as we might expect, colors leap off the screen and contrast and black levels work very nicely to create the near picture of perfection. No complaints here.
Audio: How’s it sound?
A movie about James Brown had better sound good and it does. Do you feel good? You should! The DTS HD Master Audio mix simply pleases the senses from beginning to end. Vocals (spoken) are crisp and clean, but the soundtrack really shines when the songs start rolling. Yes, Chadwick Boseman did lip sync, so it’s not all him but the sound resonates through each and every channel. I haven’t been to many concerts, but with this I felt like I was in the front row. The dynamic audio serves as a veritable homage to the godfather of soul. Well done!
Supplements: What are the extras?
There’s no shortage of supplements here and many are Blu-ray exclusives. Let’s see what’s included.
DVD Extras
- Long Journey to the Screen – A look at what it took to get the film made, acquiring the rights to Brown’s name and story as well as casting and so on.
- Tate Taylor’s Master Class – On the light-hearted side we see stars Alison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey doing their best to dance to the tunes. Hilarity ensues.
- Chadwick Boseman: Meet Mr. James Brown – Chadwick Boseman’s transformation into the “Godfather of Soul” is featured here as well as some comments from the cast and crew praising his performance.
- The Get On Up Family – A look at some members of the supporting, ensemble cast of the film.
- Audio Commentary – Director and Producer Tate Taylor has a LOT to say in this commentary track. Obviously wearing two hats, the man was very involved in the production and he’s clearly passionate about the project. It’s fun and fact-filled track and a must listen to anyone who’s a fan of the movie.
Blu-ray Exclusives
- Deleted/Alternate/Extended Scenes – Ten in all, totaling around 15 minutes. I personally think that some of these should have been in the film, but with it already running 140 minutes, I suppose some sacrifices had to be made.
- Full Song Performances – Four in all: “Out of Sight,” “Steal Away,” “I’ll Go Crazy” and “Cold Sweat”.
- Extended Song Performances – Three in all, though two are of the same song, “Please Please Please,” as well as “Say It Loud.”
- The Founding Father of Funk – Some modern-day musicians send their praise to Mr. Brown like Pharrell Williams and Ice Cube. Nice.
- On Stage with the Hardest Working Man – Some members of the band, alongside Boseman, are profiled here.
- DVD/Digital HD Copy
