This is not an easy movie for me to review. For starters, I don't like the music of James Brown at all. Sure, growing up when I did I was aware of him and his music. But that was not any reason for me to watch this movie. And in fact, despite perhaps understanding who James Brown was a little better, this movie didn't make me like who he was as a person anymore than I did before. After watching this film I simply see James Brown as a man who overestimated the importance of his musical genre, and had no perspective about his personal importance. It appears that he alienated virtually everyone who associated with him. However, I must give him credit for coming from as poor and underprivileged and abusive background as one could come from and his mark in the world.
Then there's the film itself. I liked it a lot except TOO MANY FLASHBACKS; flashbacks are often overdone, as they are here. Yes, flashbacks were needed in this film, but they could have been better done. And the penultimate scene with his mother was totally out of place. The look into various aspects of southern Black life at a certain point in history was fascinating.
But then there's what I watched the film for -- the performance of Chadwick Boseman. Mark my words: if this young actor selects roles carefully, I believe he will be one of the finest and most acclaimed actors in American cinema.
There are other fine performances here -- Dan Ackroyd is perfect as the promoter. Viola Davis is superb in the thankless role of James Brown's mother. Octavia Spencer is wonderful as "Aunt Honey". I was also very impressed by Nelsan Ellis.
But in the end, the film is a tour de force for Chadwick Boseman. I'm not sure there ever was a biopic with a more impressive performance.
Then there's the film itself. I liked it a lot except TOO MANY FLASHBACKS; flashbacks are often overdone, as they are here. Yes, flashbacks were needed in this film, but they could have been better done. And the penultimate scene with his mother was totally out of place. The look into various aspects of southern Black life at a certain point in history was fascinating.
But then there's what I watched the film for -- the performance of Chadwick Boseman. Mark my words: if this young actor selects roles carefully, I believe he will be one of the finest and most acclaimed actors in American cinema.
There are other fine performances here -- Dan Ackroyd is perfect as the promoter. Viola Davis is superb in the thankless role of James Brown's mother. Octavia Spencer is wonderful as "Aunt Honey". I was also very impressed by Nelsan Ellis.
But in the end, the film is a tour de force for Chadwick Boseman. I'm not sure there ever was a biopic with a more impressive performance.