Get on Up (2014)

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

Director:

Tate Taylor

Writers:

Jez Butterworth (screenplay), John-Henry Butterworth (screenplay)

Stars:

Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd

6 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chadwick Boseman	...	James Brown
Nelsan Ellis	...	Bobby Byrd
Dan Aykroyd	...	Ben Bart
Viola Davis	...	Susie Brown
Lennie James	...	Joe Brown
Fred Melamed	...	Syd Nathan
Craig Robinson	...	Maceo Parker
Jill Scott	...	DeeDee Brown
Octavia Spencer	...	Aunt Honey
Josh Hopkins	...	Ralph Bass
Brandon Mychal Smith	...	Little Richard (as Brandon Smith)
Tika Sumpter	...	Yvonne Fair
Aunjanue Ellis	...	Vicki Anderson
Tariq Trotter	...	Pee Wee Ellis
Aloe Blacc	...	Nafloyd Scott

Storyline

On route to the stage, singer James Brown recalls a life with a turbulent childhood where music was his only constructive release for his passions. A chance demonstration of that in prison led to a new friend who helped get him out and into a musical career. With his fire and creative daring, Brown became a star who defiantly created new possibilities in show business both on and behind the stage in face of racism and conventional thinking. Along the way, James would also become a peacemaker who redefined and raised the African-American community's feeling of self-worth when it was needed most. However, those same domineering passions would lead James Brown alienating everyone around him as his appetites became ever more self-destructive. Only after he hit rock bottom with a serious mistake does Brown realize what he needs to do make his life as the Godfather of Soul truly worthwhile.

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Plot Keywords:

african american | in medias res | breaking the fourth wall | 1970s | 1980s | 

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Taglines:

The Funk don't Quit

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Get on Up: Príbeh Jamese Browna

Filming Locations:

Natchez, Mississippi, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,585,915, 3 August 2014, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$30,513,940, 12 September 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Jagged Films, Wyolah Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Chadwick Boseman did all his own dancing.

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Goofs

At the beginning of 1965, Ben gives James a chauffeur-driven black 1967 Cadillac.

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Quotes

Little Richard: I play a show in Lafayette last week twenty thirty girls pass clean out. Need oxygen. I'm killing 'em James. They should lock me away. I cut loose it's like a spaceship land. Did I say I got a record out? They drop it five times a day on WIBB. Five times a day. And I'm flippin' burgers. You know why? Cause WIBB antenna reach 60 mile. 60 mile. This country is 5000 miles top to toe and 7000 coast to coast. You catch the wind, get a hit, a real hit, every inch of that is yours.

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Connections

Featured in Film 2017: Episode dated 19 November 2014 (2014)

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Soundtracks

Cold Sweat
Written by James Brown and Pee Wee Ellis (as Alfred James Ellis)
Performed by James Brown
Courtesy of Republic Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

James Brown . . . Is That You?

Chadwick Boseman is James Brown as he recreates his evolution as a performer in exhaustive dimension and magnitude. The raw and charismatic excitement of Brown's presence are all here. This shows dedication and natural ability as Boseman reminds us of a heritage that music cannot deny and a story that needs to be told again and again as Brown's influence continues to mesmerize us when we hear him. The entire cast were soulful and talented. Viola Davis was very moving as Brown's mother who had abandoned him as a young child and we sense the deep sorrow and loss that Brown must have endured and helps us understand his determination and inner fire as he himself catches hold of his spiritual connection to source and allows his musical genius to take hold of him and us. The words and messages in the songs that Brown wrote may at times seem simplistic but true as he sings them with such knowing, a man who has experienced life in all its dimensions.