Imagine Entertainment

Jagged Films

Universal Pictures

Not part of a collection.

Get On Up

Name: Get On Up
Released: 2014-08-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 6.8

The Funk Don't Quit

2014 • 139 min • ★ 6.8 (575) • Released

Drama History Music

A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.

IMDb ↗

Original title: Get On Up
Language: EN
Country: US
Budget: $30,000,000
Revenue: $33,448,971

Reviews & Ratings 1

r96sk

Oct 25, 2020 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

Chadwick Boseman is terrific, but <em>'Get on Up'</em> is missing something that would make it a great biopic. I still very much enjoyed it, I always tend to find biographical films interesting - especially when I don't know too much about the person(s) in question, as is the case with James Brown here; I've always known of him and his major songs, but that's about it. Boseman leads strongly, carrying the film really. That's not to say he's alone in terms of the onscreen talent, as there are others who I liked. Dan Aykroyd is solid, while Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis are welcomed cast members. The brilliant Lennie James is also involved, admittedly in a relatively small role. With all that noted, I just felt there was something missing. I can't exactly pinpoint what that is. One of the things I felt from the start was the lack of likeability I had for the lead character, perhaps that was intentional though. The 'breaking the fourth wall' stuff is iffy, too. The 139 run time probably comes into it as well, while the ageing for Boseman & Co. isn't the best I've seen - which isn't good, given the film opens with a scene that requires ageing so it naturally stuck in my memory more. As also mentioned at the top, I didn't come into this knowing all about James Brown and his music/life so that likely plays a part - though I've seen other biopics under similar circumstances and it hasn't affected my enjoyment. There are still other positives, aside from the cast, of course. I actually liked the non-linear structure of how the story is told, while the cinematography is pleasant. The music is also worked in well. All in all, it's a film that I would recommend. It had all the ingredients to be grander though.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 13

1950s 1970s 1980s african american entertainer biography breaking the fourth wall domestic violence non linear singer songwriter soul music south carolina vietnam war

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Cast 44

Chadwick Boseman

James Brown

Nelsan Ellis

Bobby Byrd

Dan Aykroyd

Ben Bart

Viola Davis

Susie Brown

Lennie James

Joe Brown

Fred Melamed

Syd Nathan

Jill Scott

DeeDee Brown

Octavia Spencer

Aunt Honey

Nick Eversman

Mick Jagger

Tika Sumpter

Yvonne Fair

James DuMont

Corporal Dooley

Billy Slaughter

Pool Cleaner

Ritchie Montgomery

Warden

Craig Robinson

Maceo Parker

Brandon Mychal Smith

Little Richard

Aloe Blacc

Nafloyd Scott

Josh Hopkins

Ralph Bass

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor

Vicki Anderson

Tariq Trotter

Pee Wee Ellis

Keith D. Robinson

Baby Roy

Stacey Scowley

Penelope White

Liz Mikel

Gertrude Sanders

Julius Tennon

Grandpa Byrd

Allison Janney

Kathy

John Benjamin Hickey

Richard

J.D. Evermore

Seminar Presenter

Jim Gleason

Insurance Salesman

Ahna O'Reilly

Reporter

Donald Watkins

Black Infantryman

Corey Sorenson

Pilot

Hunter Burke

Soldier

Rena DeAngelo

Reno Reporter

Aakomon Jones

Bobby Bennett

Aaron Jay Rome

Frankie Avalon

Atkins Estimond

Big Junior

Clyde Jones

Daddy Grace

Michael Papajohn

1949 Cop

Kirk Bovill

Announcer

Jacinte Blankenship

Velma Brown

Sheldon Frett

Susie's Soldier

Joe T. Blankenship

Alan Leeds

Jason Davis

Mayor White

David Carzell

Catfish

Aaron J. Brooks

Insurance Agent

Crew 34

Mark Ricker

Production Design

Rena DeAngelo

Set Decoration

Stephen Goldblatt

Director of Photography

Sharen Davis

Costume Design

Lex D. Geddings

Stunt Coordinator

Carl Anthony Nespoli

Stunt Driver

Jeff Brockton

Stunt Driver

Mark Yawn

Stunt Driver

Michael Endoso

Stunt Driver

Tony Donno

Stunt Driver

Alan D'Antoni

Stunts

Buddy Sosthand

Stunts

Chuck Picerni Jr.

Stunts

Danny Epper

Stunts

David Andrew Nash

Stunts

Floyd Anthony Johns Jr.

Stunts

Philip Fornah

Stunts

Sean Paul Braud

Stunts

Tim Bell

Stunts

William Scharpf

Stunts

Tate Taylor

Director

Michael McCusker

Editor

Jez Butterworth

Executive Producer

John Norris

Executive Producer

John-Henry Butterworth

Executive Producer

Brian Grazer

Producer

Mick Jagger

Producer

Tate Taylor

Producer

Thomas Newman

Original Music Composer

James Brown

Songs

Steven A. Morrow

Sound Mixer

Greg P. Russell

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Jez Butterworth

Screenplay

John-Henry Butterworth

Screenplay

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US Release Dates 1

Aug 1, 2014

PG-13 Theatrical