Get On Up

You knew it had to happen.  It’s been nearly eight years since the passing of iconic “Godfather of Soul” singer performer James Brown.  The first-ever feature film, Get On Up pays tribute to the singer.  Get On Up recently premiered at the historic Apollo Theater in New York City.  It’s hard to believe Brown’s career spanned six decades. The film takes us down memory land reminding viewers of his larger than life performances, his showmanship, intricate dance steps, even his pompadour hairstyles and my favorite: his regal cape routine.

SPOILER ALERT

I forgot when I completed my first Nike Half-Marathon last year that music was what helped keep me motivated and cross the finish line to obtain my Tiffany necklace.  However, little did I realize that my signature play list or um, soundtrack included any and all James Brown music from the iTunes James Brown radio station.  The James Brown station features other artists big during the seventies music referred to as funk music. This is the music that helps motivate me to start and finish one hour nearly every day on my stationery bike.

In my quest to achieve 10,000 steps daily, I rediscovered my love of the music that I grew up listening to – Mr. Dynamite is my motivation.

With interest, I read my daughter’s BFF at O, The Oprah Magazine Live Your Best Life  August article about the film.  Arianna’s article on James Brown, broke down the numbers behind the he Hardest Working Man in Show Business: 800 – Estimated number of songs in Brown’s catalog. 91 – Number of Brown’s hits that made the Billboard Hot 100 7 – Rumored number of pounds Brown could sweat off during a live show. 3 – Number of Brown’s alleged addictions: painkillers, PCP, and the Playboy Channel (for costume ideas of this dancers on stage) 14 – Number of karats in the gold plating on Brown’s casket

SPOILER ALERT:

Now the movie, Get On Up, the biopic about the Godfather of Soul, has been thirteen years in the making with many changes to the story line as well as directors. Spike Lee was the original director replaced by The Help director Tate Taylor. Enter in Mick Jagger, producer who cleared all the key rights and read the script. Jagger partnered with producer Brian Glazer to get on up on the filming of James Brown’s biopic.

The movie chronicled his humble beginnings as well as his determination and perseverance to succeed with only having a 7th grade education. Thank God Brown sang way better than he spoke because many times during the movie, I couldn’t understand what was he saying with his southern drawl.

Handsome and relatively unknown actor Chadwick Boseman brings life to the film even though I thought Brown’s life was disjointedly presented.  It was hard to stay focused when the film moved back and forth between James being young and older to follow the story line even (though important turning points were covered).  However, I must say Boseman mastered Brown’s mannerisms especially the long walk in the red suit to the concert he was performing.

Brown’s best friend Bobby Byrd presented well as portrayed by actor, Nelson Ellis.  Viola Davis plays an excellent role as mother to Brown with their estranged mother son relationship because she abandons him as a child.  I love how Octavia Spencer as the brothel running auntie spoke special thoughts to James inspiring him to be great nevertheless his circumstances of living in and rallying patrons for her.

The make-up and hair artist team should be commended for actor Boseman’s portrayal of Brown, the pompadour hair was owned by Godfather of Soul. The clothes accurately reflected his flashy lifestyle, his band as well as for his second wife, played by Jill Scott. Hats off to Sharen Davis, costume designer known for her work on Django Unchained (2012), The Help (2011) and Looper (2012).

Get On Up included real life parallels to his music that reflected times in which he sang especially during the civil rights movement. He boldly sang, “Say It Loud – I’m  Black and Proud” during the turbulent civil rights era other notable songs included the following:

Get Up (Get Into It, Get Involved, Don’t Be a Drop-out) during the 1960s when dropout rates were high in african american communities – royalties from song were donated to dropout prevention programs.

1968: He stopped a riot in Boston during the aftermath of assassination of MLK  after three nights of violence in Boston- Brown provided a televised free city-wide concert in Boston to maintain public order. “We together of we aint?” he said to the crowd as they started to get restless.

1968: Dashiki clad Brown included young African American children on his song, “Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”

1968: He changed the rules when he asked then president Lyndon B. Johnson to entertained the African American troops in Vietnam

The film included the good, the bad and the ugly of James Brown’s life and career.  Plans are in motion to turn the self made man’s 60-acre estate on Beech Island, South Carolina into a museum for educational tours.  The public museum,  a wonderful final tribute to Mr. Brown (who at his death was worth $100 million dollars).