Most celebrity biopics leave me wondering, why was I supposed to find that interesting. But from the beginning, when a lunatic James Brown starts ranting and then looks at the camera to let us know this is his story and he's telling it, I thought, this is actually more than a by-the-numbers biography.
Brown is brilliantly played by Chadwick Boseman, who is all intensity and prickliness. The movie shows Brown's drive and genius, as well as his violence and capriciousness. It also shows how amazing he was in concert - I don't even like live music yet I regret not saying Brown when he was alive.
The criticisms I've heard of this movie perplex me. Some people claim that it *is* a standard biopic, and it seems to have gotten less love than much more conventional celebrity takes like Elvis and Walk the Line. Other complained because it failed to show *enough* of Brown's genius, or musicality, or violence, which is weird because it's a two-hour movie and it's impressive that it manages to touch on as many things as it does.
Anyway, Boseman is amazing, the movie is imaginitively told, and Brown is a legitimately interesting guy, even if he's not always a likable one. Recommended.
Brown is brilliantly played by Chadwick Boseman, who is all intensity and prickliness. The movie shows Brown's drive and genius, as well as his violence and capriciousness. It also shows how amazing he was in concert - I don't even like live music yet I regret not saying Brown when he was alive.
The criticisms I've heard of this movie perplex me. Some people claim that it *is* a standard biopic, and it seems to have gotten less love than much more conventional celebrity takes like Elvis and Walk the Line. Other complained because it failed to show *enough* of Brown's genius, or musicality, or violence, which is weird because it's a two-hour movie and it's impressive that it manages to touch on as many things as it does.
Anyway, Boseman is amazing, the movie is imaginitively told, and Brown is a legitimately interesting guy, even if he's not always a likable one. Recommended.