How a nonlinear biopic captured the chaotic, unstoppable energy of the Godfather of Soul
In short: The 2014 film Get On Up breaks the traditional mold of musical biographies. By utilizing a nonlinear narrative and having James Brown occasionally address the audience directly, the film mirrors the chaotic, stream-of-consciousness life of the funk pioneer, anchored by a transformative performance from lead actor Chadwick Boseman.
Development of the James Brown biopic was a long, winding road that began as early as 2000 under the working title Star Time. After years of stalled progress due to music licensing and financial hurdles, the project was revived in 2012 when producer Mick Jagger reviewed a draft by writers Jez and John-Henry Butterworth. The filmmakers eventually opted for a structure that eschewed a standard chronological retelling, instead jumping across decades to capture the essence of Brown’s life, from his impoverished childhood in Augusta, Georgia, to his 1988 arrest and his 1993 performance at Atlanta's Omni Coliseum.
The production, directed by Tate Taylor, was filmed entirely on location in Mississippi over 49 days, beginning in November 2013. Chadwick Boseman, who performed his own dancing and some singing, led an ensemble cast that included Viola Davis as Brown's mother, Susie, and Nelsan Ellis as his lifelong friend and collaborator, Bobby Byrd. The film’s script took creative liberties, including the fabrication of certain incidents, a choice that sparked debate among critics regarding the balance between narrative necessity and historical accuracy.
Upon its release in August 2014, the film received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of Boseman and Ellis. While some reviewers, such as Robert Christgau, lauded the film as a great homage that captured the spirit of Brown’s music, others criticized it for being shapeless or for omitting significant aspects of his life, such as his social activism. Despite a $30 million budget, the film grossed approximately $33.4 million worldwide by September 2014. Ultimately, Get On Up serves as a dynamic, if occasionally mythologized, portrait of an artist whose life and influence remain difficult to fully encapsulate.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Get On Up (film)
- Also: Wikidata — Get on Up · CC0
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