Get On Up - reviews of 'thrilling' James Brown biopic
Boseman is 'brilliant' as James Brown, in this energising story of the Godfather of Soul
What you need to know
A new biopic about legendary American soul singer James Brown, Get On Up, opens in UK cinemas today. Tate Taylor (The Help) directs the film written by British brothers John-Henry and Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem).
Chadwick Boseman stars as Brown, who overcomes an impoverished South Carolina childhood and spends time in prison before transforming himself into the world-famous Godfather of Soul. With Viola Davis and Dan Ackroyd.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What the critics like
"Energising, stylish and engrossing", Get On Up features a career-making performance from Boseman who plays it just right, says Dan Jolin in Empire. He is brilliant and it would be madness if he isn't among the Oscar runners this season.
This viscerally explosive biopic "thrillingly captures the frenzy of Brown's music, and the forces driving that frenzy, both musical and personal", says Stephen Holden in the New York Times. Like its gyrating, spasmodic staccato beats, Get On Up refuses to stand still.
"A grand piece of magic happens with Chadwick Boseman's utter inhabitation of the role of James Brown," says Joshua Rothkopf in Time Out. The mysterious man behind the legend comes through with uncommon, heart-stopping electricity - so much of this film is uncannily perfect.
What they don't like
Brown had "a big life that resists being crammed into one movie" but this film tries to do it anyway, jumping around in time and dropping in a slew of characters, says Peter Travis in Rolling Stone. It shows Brown's temper and his faults as a control freak, but blinks hard when issues turn to jail time, guns, drugs, spousal abuse, and how his support of civil rights protests sits with endorsements of Nixon and Reagan.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - March 26, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - the House GOP abandon ship, Joe Biden sets his stall, and more
By The Week US Published
-
US-Israel rift widens after UN cease-fire resolution
Speed Read The U.S. declined to veto a U.N. resolution calling for a two-week "immediate cease-fire" in Gaza
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Westbury Hotel review: stunning suites in charming Dublin
The Week Recommends This hotel is the perfect spot to while away a weekend in Ireland's capital
By Kaye O'Doherty Published
-
Drama movies 2024: new films out this year
In Depth Latest reviews include The Boys in the Boat, One Life and Tchaikovsky's Wife
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Best new hotels and places to stay in 2024
The Week Recommends Featuring stylish island resorts, historical properties and wilderness retreats
By The Week UK Last updated
-
Albums of the year: best music of 2023
The Week Recommends A look back at the best pop, rap, jazz, dance, classical and rock releases
By The Week UK Published
-
Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay review: an institution reinvented
The Week Recommends Traditions are maintained and the tweaks are clever and modern
By Neil Davey Published
-
Tulum: a Mexican beach town of 'two halves'
The Week Recommends With the 'pueblo' and 'Zona Hotelera', Tulum is home to great hotels, restaurants and beach clubs
By William Leigh Published
-
La Zebra review: beach chic, perfect tacos and secret cenotes
The Week Recommends Enjoy a stylish stay in Mexico at this family-friendly beach hotel and restaurant
By William Leigh Published
-
Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas review: a mythical beachside resort
The Week Recommends Combine the classically simple pleasures of sun, sea and sand with upmarket fun and food
By Adrienne Wyper Published