Little Richard: Last week, I'm playing a show in Lafayette, "twenty thirty girls" go all out. We need oxygen. I'm killing them, James. They should lock me up. I broke free, it was like landing a spaceship. Did I mention I made a record? It is posted on WIBB five times a day. Five times a day. And I flip the burgers. You know why? Because the WIBB antenna reaches 60 miles. 60 miles. This country stretches 5,000 miles from top to toe and 7,000 from coast to coast. You catch the wind, you get a hit, a real hit, every inch of which is yours. "(c) You can achieve anything you want and don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise. Remember: if you want, learn, and then achieve. James Brown When I get on stage, people better be prepared, especially white. If someone licks your soles, press his foot before he bites. Paul Valerie Hypocrisy is often called the rule of decency. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche It's a great movie. Where subtly pass through hypocrisy and falsehood, as well as betrayal. Very atmospheric cinema. In one breath. Bravo.Recommended.👍The music is amazing. 👌
Revolutionary again. Why is he more than an Idol? Because he created something that was not there before.
This film is necessary for people who want to find inspiration, and, accordingly, for those who study the formation of music of the twentieth century.
Once again, we are convinced that the biography of a famous person is much more emotional and brighter coming off the screens in the form of a feature film than a documentary. Especially if the movie is as good as this one.
This is the fate of James Brown. We show him his personality and, of course, the music.
As for the perpetrator of the celebration, he, like any idol, has a specific character. But, lately, he is the most selfish character I have studied.
A star can do anything. And the revolutionary and the creator, especially.
He's James Brown, he can do anything.
By the way, in some reviews of the film, I saw the opinion that he made himself, exclusively. Like, patience and hard work, you'll get it all.
But it's not. First and foremost, he is a talent of the highest caliber. And the rest is his way.
A solitary flower that grew up in the backyard, which every passerby tried to wipe his feet about, desperately resisted the share of the garbage. In him there was a desire to pour out his talent and skill on the whole world that sneezed on him, and only the apparent beauty and helplessness of an innocent being kept others from hasty actions. As time passed, this little plant hardened and began to spit poison at anyone who intended to humiliate it. But the truth of life is that you have to be flexible. Strong in spirit are able to put down strong roots and stand dead in one place, not letting anyone near them. But how far will such people go if they are outcasts? It's a rhetorical question. Thus, when the young man is wise, he finds his own kind and draws near to them. However, their own ambitions and selfishness destroy everything that was built by collective labor. Let's get more specific:
Characters:
James Brown:
The film begins in the turbulent 80s, when a slightly shabby and dehydrated Brown grabs a shotgun from under the seat of the Ford F-150 of the eighth generation and goes to teach good manners lessons to the businessman and his companions, brazenly invading Mr. Brown's tube. Remember this point well, for the rest of the story is entirely based on an explanation of how Joseph Jr. came to self-flagellation. We are transported to 1949, to the city of Toccoa, Georgia - after stealing an exit suit, James is taken to the police and faces a serious sentence. There is also a concert for prisoners (we will skip the fight) and our almost adult rebel meets the vocalist of the band "Gospel Starlighters" - Bobby Bird. He, out of kindness of heart, takes a new friend and without five minutes, sang along with the "Evangelical Star Lighters" to his home. Step by step, making their way through the strict laws of show business, two friends assemble a team, under the banner "The Famous Flames" and win the hearts of millions with the charming singing of James Brown in the avant-garde. The following events fall into the definition – “over the measure, inflated conceit – no friend!” Revealing James as a character, the authors resort to the destruction of the fourth wall. The hero, addressing the viewer (a direct look at the camera), speaks about the motives of certain actions, becoming a kind of guide in this artistic picture, obviously inspired by the work of a famous musician.
Bobby Bird:
A fateful encounter with a driven black boy opened the door to fame. Unfortunately, no matter how hard Bobby tries, he is always in the shadow of James Brown. Having traveled all over the country, yesterday's gospel performer, resigns himself to his fate. In 1955, the year "The Famous Flames" falls under the sights of Ben Bart - president of Universal Attractions - the largest agency in New York, that dreams of launching his ubiquitous tentacles into the pockets of James' newly formed audience. Alas, greedy producers need only him, the rest of the dance they do not need. Nevertheless, still uncorrupted by universal recognition, "Dynamite", puts a hard ultimatum (risking the acquired capital) and in the 62nd "Famous Fire" rattles with all its might. A little later, the instrumental orchestra leaves, finished with constant quarrels with the star. Bobby continues to perform until '71, until his desire to release a solo album annoys Mr. Please Please Please.
Richard Little:
From the first appearance on the screen ignites the dance floor of the killer "Tutti Frutti" of the 55th. It is noteworthy here another scene in a diner, where a very young Richard Little, broadcasting his records five laps a day for a measly 100 kilometers, so still selling burgers, warns James against the “White devil” in an expensive tuxedo, which will not miss the opportunity to tempt the money bag, so successfully fell into his hands.
Atmosphere:
Tate Taylor's tape chaotically throws us through time intervals - from 1939 to 1993, accompanied by amazing hits of funk, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Bright episodes of endless parties are replaced by the dull colors of the difficult childhood of The Godfather of Soul, which nurtured his character and love of applause.
Acting game:
This is the third role Chedwick Boseman, where he plays a real person who left a mark in history (Jack Roosevelt Robinson - the first black player of the Major League Baseball of the XX century, Tergood Marshall at the dawn of the 40s the only lawyer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People" and of course James Brown - one of the most influential figures in pop music of the XX century) and time after time gives an amazing acting work (the moment of reunion with his mother - the best demonstration of dramatic Boseman). In his current incarnation, special emphasis is placed on plastic and voice, Chadwick moves in the crazy rhythm of rock 'n' roll, like the deceased "king" and sings no worse. Bobby Bird Nelsan Ellis is a simple tribute to following a great dream, despite all the hardships of its implementation. Brandon Michael Smith and his Richard Little are an explosive mixture of charisma and incredibly contagious energy.
"The Way Up" - a very curious performance, denouncing hypocrisy, lies and betrayal, without fear of offending anyone - skillfully, unceremoniously, boldly - wrapped in an excellent script and entourage of a whole era, with a pleasant sediment at the end!
9 out of 10
After watching the film 'Ray', who just shook me and my wife and did not go out of my mind for several days, decided to watch this film.
And surprisingly, I didn’t like it, even though I myself am a musician and quite a lot of funk outplayed.
What is missing in the film is the identity of James Brown. It is there only ' for the title ' Everything is shown by some conditional events: here he started singing, here he is in the band Famous Flames, here is the concert, here is the record, and here is the success. And it's very schematic.
It's about everything and nothing.
I didn’t like that James Brown was just a lucky guy who was in the right place at the right time. About the fight for the rights of blacks - in a glimpse, about the revolution in music and show - in a glimpse, about his relationship with his musicians - in a glimpse.
And the most offensive - the wife, who, unlike me, does not know James Brown and his place in music of the 20th century, after the film said '. And indeed, all the greatness of James as a musician and as a person - the film somewhere lost, leaving only a brief retelling of the biography.
P.S. Well, although the music is not spoiled, it is gorgeous, even because of it is worth watching.
How many of you don't know James Brown? There are none! But who knows his success story? Less now. How easy it is to guess the film will tell us about what a simple guy from Agasta went to become the same James Brown - the king of funk, the godfather of soul and the idol of millions of people around the world.
Thank you to the creators for this hot movie. It's just a crazy non-stop marathon of James Brown songs. Well, it is impossible to sit still when this black devil lights up to the brightest funk hits. There is a lot of music in the film, which can not but rejoice: the legs want to trample the pearl, the hands want to beat the invisible drums, the whole body wants to go into separation. I guarantee you will lose weight from watching.
All the actors did just fine. I really liked the costumes and make-up (hairstyles here change even more often than in "Boyhood"). However, there are downsides to the film, like the style of storytelling or the constant appeal to the viewer, but this atmosphere ... this drive ... these emotions. I'm really excited!
Amazing story about the main pop idol of the twentieth century
The great James Brown went to fame as a bulldozer, sweeping everything in his path, breaking the foundations of show business, creating his own unique story. He became the first true king of pop music, inventing funk and popularizing native black music like gospel among the masses. His show and image became exemplary - a huge number of artists of different genres, at least partially, but still copy his manner. Reflecting the entire stage, behind-the-scenes and home-musical life of the legendary Brown is a seemingly impossible task. But director Tate Taylor in his new film “The Way Up” so raised the bar for the quality of biographical paintings that it is unlikely that in the near future someone will be able to compete with him.
In the recent past, actor (mostly serial) Tate Taylor – in the present, without a doubt, the “new wave” of great Hollywood directors. In 2011, he shot the brilliant “Salvage”, which was not enough just a little to receive the Oscar in the main nomination. But even then, Taylor showed exactly how he works with the era and style, and most importantly with the viewer, making him laugh and cry.
The director uses the same technique in the film The Way Up, where by default sympathy lies on the side of James Brown, but gradually his nature is revealed from different sides, often not the most attractive. His father was cruel to his mother and son, which was reflected in Brown’s own brutal loneliness in the future: four marriages, to the last cynical attitude towards his lifelong devoted friend on and off stage Bobby Bird (an excellent role in the biography of Nelsan Ellis). But the wayward character is nothing before Her Majesty Music. Many of the gifted above in ordinary life are unbearable.
But the evil genius side is far from the only one in the film. First of all, it shows the incredible path to fame that Brown has taken. He not only showed business acumen, in time brushed off everything superfluous, including devoted colleagues, but also worked on his image. Without it, his outstanding talent in its purest form simply would not have worked. The director does not bypass the theme of the struggle for the rights and freedoms of the colored population of America. Although this direction does not stand out from the general background, it is exceptional: Brown in life and in the cinema is an ardent fighter for cohesion and a place in the sun of African Americans.
Who Chadwick Boseman was, no one knew! Appearing only in TV series, and even then in non-leading roles, it is completely incomprehensible how such a talent of acting has never been lit up anywhere before. His role as James Brown is, without irony, outstanding. And it’s not only in the incredible external similarity (it seems that makeup was applied only to age the character), but in damn accordance with the real James Brown! What only dances and signature movements on the stage are worth is absolutely inimitable. It seems that the actor, like the real Brown, after filming fell tired of such tricks, and he was injected with glucose. Energetic energy and dedication.
This film is not an absolute biography, many facts are omitted, only the main milestones in the very bright and unusual career of the musician are taken. So the narrative itself is fractional due to ragged editing, constant interweaving of different time periods, but, nevertheless, adhering to the general canvas without running ahead. “The Way Up” is an amazing story about the main pop idol of the twentieth century, whose enchanting artistic nature is shown on the screen as much as possible, reflecting the whole whirlwind and irrepressibility of his dances with music.
To play funk, you have to go to jail and break your arm.
A person without whom there would be no musical direction. In America, he is more popular than the Beatles and the Rollings. Mick Jagger adopted his style on stage, and Michael Jackson - choreography. Legend of funk, rock 'n' roll and a whole era!
Good film dedication. Chronological dashboards bring dynamics and focus on the main points of the difficult life of the artist. It’s funny that one of the producers was Jagger himself [and how in this scenario there will not be a scene where the young Rolling Stones complete a concert bypassing Brown]. A kind of bow and tribute to the idol of violent youth.
About how accurately Chadwick Boseman managed to convey the character and talent of Brown, how much the film is biographical, to judge the fans. I'm going to keep the humble role of observer: I liked it. It would be strange to expect such a colorful biopic believability. Keen did not distinguish himself by special means of expression, but he is very atmospheric. Consider the evolution of familiar musical themes. For example, in the film sounds unusually slow early version of the famous "I Feel Good". Hairstyles, costumes and mannerisms of characters change with status and decades [60s, 70s, 80s]. And this kaleidoscope brings great pleasure.
After this film, a treacherous thought comes to mind: somewhere in Sweden, well-fed boys with a roof over their heads are yelling depressive metal, while a hungry ragman without a father and mother sings as “feeling good.”
7 out of 10
To be honest, I waited a long time for this movie and was positively satisfied after watching it.
The legendary James Brown, whose style I first became interested in almost 10 years ago, when I discovered such directions of music as Funk&Soul. Because of the small sources, I had absolutely no idea about his life and I would dare to believe in the authenticity of the filmed biography, because it shed light on much of what remained a mystery.
Life is a lesson to future generations.
Always hot, ever young and ever alive. Charismatic and bright, moderately arrogant and bullying, but he is what the stage has always waited for him. He was born in an era of racism and was destined to go through all the hardships of his country's sad time. His life path cannot but arouse admiration, because the likes of James are born one in a billion and not everyone is able to repeat that charisma and success. He was a kind of unique and unique representative of the chosen genre and with full confidence we can say that, unfortunately, the world will not soon see the "new JB".
Opinion about the film.
Despite many of the maps revealed, we want to believe that their authenticity was taken from the words of James’ circle of friends, the film does not show all the moments of his life, and many were not fully disclosed, leaving, albeit in a reduced volume, but still a shadow of mysteries after viewing, such as going beyond manic limits in an obvious attempt to prove something to society in a shotgun by an advantage.
Otherwise, the opinion about the film is extremely positive and I highly recommend it to watch, both for JB listeners and those who have not yet discovered the world of Rhythm and Blues.
7 out of 10
The aftertaste of the film was very reminiscent of Jersey Boys, another fresh 60s idol film that told the story of the band but did not elicit any empathy.
For me, in such films, the main thing is immersion in that era, and the presence of characters that cause resonance.
But in this film, a very atypical hero, who is difficult to empathize with in view of his absolute and egocentric uniqueness, and the supporting characters greatly fade against his background.
At the same time, the manner of shooting and the presentation of the plot is also atypical and gives a certain arthouse, so it is not possible to feel the spirit of that time, plunge into the ocean of the past.
Perhaps this was the intention of the director - to present the musician as modern, timeless, but still this approach kills a lot of romanticism.
You know, it's like reading an old book with yellowed pages or flipping through the same story on a tablet. It seems to be the same, but someone, including me, will choose the first option.
If someone missed, I advise you to familiarize yourself with Cross the Line and Cadillac Records - there are, in my opinion, much more points of contact with the viewer.
Well, welcome friends of readers. The moment came when I could not remain silent about the picture and for the first time I will leave a review for this wonderful biopic. To begin with, I will note that this is a really strong sample of art biography, which is 'required' to view as 'Bird' or Ray'.
Playfully built narrative of the picture, catches you from the first minute and does not let go to the credits. In more than two hours you will witness the formation of one of the greatest funk musicians of the XX century.
James Brown was a bright and extremely extraordinary person. And in the film they will try to reveal his personality from different sides, which in my opinion the director turned out more than worthy, without resorting to excessive pathos, we will see a genius and a madman.
In the film, the director focuses on the formation of James from a young poor talent, into a pop icon, as well as on his environment. Relationships with family and colleagues on stage.
'What about the music?' - I asked myself before watching. History teaches that there can be movies about musicians without their songs. It may not spoil the picture, but a touch of a certain disappointment will leave, as happened with 'All is by my side - Jimmy Hendrix: everything is on my side' Andrea Benjamin was matchless in the role of Jimmy and the story is presented from an interesting angle, but due to disagreements with the owners of the rights to the compositions, the film was deprived of the main ace of the picture, the great legacy of Hendrix. But again, I liked the movie.
Fortunately 'Get on top' replete with sexually charged funk sounds, and you'll hear almost all of James's best compositions except for the one I personally expect 'Boss' but is it worth it? I will also mention Thomas Newman, one of my favorite composers, his original music is not so much here, but what he wrote will have time to charm you.
The cast is not replete with stars, and in my humble opinion, only more beautiful from this became. It was nice to see both Dan Aykroyd and Allison Janney, the brilliant Chadwig Boseman, now for a long time in my memory.
Thank you for watching a good movie.
I'm kind of uncomfortable asking if you know the song "I Got You (I Feel Good)." Any person who is more or less deeply interested in music, just had to hear this immortal hit. And if for some reason the reader could not find out the name of the person who created this wonderful song, then please – the picture of Tate Taylor perfectly fills this gap. For it was with James Brown that such styles as funk, rap and disco came. Knowing the roots of your favorite styles is always necessary, and getting acquainted with the biography of the founding father of a number of modern musical trends is also useful. It’s not for nothing that the filmmaker put in Brown’s mouth the lines he says at the beginning of the film, but hardly really said, “You probably don’t have my records.” But anyone who sings on stage now, raps, I touched. Because I'm James Brown. And then he turns to the viewer.
James Brown was actually self-assured and fighting. He survived a difficult childhood: his mother left the family, his father treated him cruelly, and then gave him to his aunt for upbringing. James grew up in poverty, forced, like most children of his color, to engage in fraud and petty theft in order to somehow survive. Trouble with the law haunted Mr. Brown until his old age. And we will go through the course of the film the entire path of the musician from childhood to old age, following his difficult fate.
We'll find out where Brown actually came from as a musician. About how he went to church as a child, and heard a real crazy Godspel there, and we understand that his subsequent behavior on stage is, in fact, the performances of the pastor in the church, whose movements he took as the basis of his plasticity. The real musician Brown became in prison, where he served time for theft. However, for unknown reasons, the film did not show how James entertained prisoners, playing on the washboard, and in the future, of course, in the course of the plot, a lot was omitted.
The fact that he was married four times, the fact that, like his father, he constantly tyrannized all his families by regularly stabbing wives. And it's good that all this negativity has been removed from the life of screen Brown. Despite everything, he was a star.
In the course of viewing, we discover what a complex nature it was. Brown’s behavior is the behavior of a person who has achieved everything in life. With his group, he behaves like a dictator, fined everyone 20-50 bucks for various offenses, he is no stranger to vanity. During the episode with his flight to Vietnam to the army with a concert, when they are almost shot down by the Viet Cong, he literally says the following: “And the previous artist who flew to you, too, shot down?” Did you want to kill funk? But then we discover other traits of the musician’s character. And specifically in the plot, when his mother, who abandoned him as a child, now comes to him, who has achieved commercial success and fame. The explanation scene with the mother is generally one of the strongest in this film.
The image of James Brown was embodied by Chadwick Boseman. I saw him for the first time in a movie and was very happy with the way he played. It is worth turning on YouTube, and you can compare the performances of the real James Brown and the screen. I thought it was great. Makeup artists tried to bring Boseman’s appearance as close as possible to Brown’s. It turned out, in general, it seems, except that the composition is a bit wrong. By the way, at the end of the film show photos of the real James Brown.
With Nelson Ellis, who plays the role of Bobby Bird here, I recently encountered in The Help (the same Taylor Tate). I can’t say anything bad about his game here, as well as good. Middle played like that, nothing special.
Dan Aykroyd, who played the role of producer Ben Bart, appears in the frame not very much of the picture time, but this was the only familiar face here. I was glad to see him as an old friend.
Tate Taylor, himself in the recent past, seems to have moved firmly into the director's chair. And recently staying in this field, has already managed to establish itself as a manufacturer of quite suitable dramas. Here's James Brown, one of them. Watching it, and not only fans of funk, no doubt, will not hurt.
He wasn't meant to be great. He was not promised wealth or fame. His path was not written in advance. James Brown became great because he wanted to!
Biographical tapes have always taken strong characters. And here they are. First we will see a poor black boy whose life will seem to everyone a deep abyss from which there is no escape. And then there will be the greatest man whose name will be chanted by hundreds of thousands of fans. His name is Funk!
Chadwick Boseman is a brilliant actor. Played dramatically, musically and spectacularly. I don’t know how easy it was for him, but after the first live set, I want to shout, ‘Come on, James, come on!’
Viola Davis is an excellent reincarnation. A caring mother, a hated wife, an outcast of fate whose son has gone far beyond the maternal wing. All this is taken over by an experienced actress and gives a first-class game, worthy of the highest praise!
"Nelsan Ellis" by Bobby Bird. He gave him a chance, discovered his talent and was committed. His stage image is pleasant and accurate. See his eyes and believe that a friend will always be there for him while he is needed.
Tate Taylor did a really strong job. His view of the history of the American idol will make you feel the deep trauma of the childhood of the protagonist, and enchanting success will surprise and please with a tempered character and an incredible desire to keep the way up!
7 out of 10
The picture must be viewed by all connoisseurs of music of any direction, because there is passion. She doesn't know the styles!
Cinema is born out of the most obvious desire to create art, and this applies to absolutely any director, but the specific methods of achieving this goal are completely different from person to person. Sometimes cinema is born out of hatred – directors are so disliked by a certain way of life or a certain kind of people that they make a sarcastic film, a satire that exposes all the vices of the rich or the younger generation or any other community that has something to ridicule. Sometimes cinema is born out of a desire to fight — authors are so deeply hurt by injustices against certain minorities that they decide to use the modern ubiquity of cinema to stand up for those in need of protection. Sometimes the movie is born out of an untold story – the filmmakers learn about the absolutely incredible life path of a completely ordinary person whose fate for many years remained unknown, but always expected to be told on the big screen. And cinema can be born out of worship - the director so admires any person, most often well-known, that he decides to embody her unique spirit on the big screen. This is how the movie James Brown came to life: The Way Up, whose director from the earliest years was fascinated by the personality of the famous singer and his insane, full of events and years of calm, joys and disappointments, ups and downs of life.
Like many great men, James Brown had many guises. On the one hand, it was a classic story in the style of “get success”, the formula of which is applicable to people of any race and era – a person born in poverty and from childhood surrounded by morally corrupt people who have no purpose and do not know true beauty, finds solace, expressing his feelings in creativity, and quickly wins his sincerity first dozens of admirers, then hundreds, then thousands, and at the end already millions. On the other, he was what is called an "evil genius" - a real tyrant, well aware of how talented and loved he begins to take advantage of people, and then throw them away, hurt them, knowing that they will endure it, just to bask in the rays of his glory a little bit more, and always justify his behavior by the weight of the burden of genius. James Brown also had a third party - despite the fact that he has repeatedly spoiled the lives of himself and others, the famous singer, like many other black celebrities, joined the cause of champions for the rights of the colored population, and more than once his work helped his native people to feel unity at a time when it was so necessary, and pride at a time when the fight against racial segregation humiliating the black population was just beginning. For all his love for the work and personality of Michael Brown, director Tate Taylor, who is known as a connoisseur of large and independent cinema for the Oscar-winning film The Help, did not mislead the viewer about the stages of his hero’s life and showed all aspects of his multifaceted essence, from those that cause silent admiration to those that appeal to loud disgust. However, the director could not find a balance in the reflection of these three Michael Browns - first he talks about one, then about another, then about the next and, instead of moving on to different ideas of the picture and moments of the story, he repeats the same conclusion over and over, sometimes even using the same visual techniques.
The story of Michael Brown has seventy-three years - exactly how many years this man lingered on the ground, and in his film, Tate Taylor tried to tell about the path of his hero from beginning to end, from childhood to old age and did it in a nonlinear order, in the rhythm of incendiary dance, moving from the childhood years of Michael Brown, to his adult crises and adversity, but, instead of conveying the crazy whirlwind of events of his hero's life, the director significantly complicated the perception of the stages of his story, since the viewer never spends enough time in one segment of the life of Michael Brown, even to fully understand and remember him. Tate Taylor took too much on himself - he wanted to make a simple drama about a man who learned from childhood not to trust people, and tell about how to be famous, desirable and not at all simple, and make a bright film with expensive performances and beautiful scenery, and make the viewer listen to the inner world of the hero, in the display of which neither fur coats nor soffits will help. The director intended to share with the audience how real music is born, coming from a heart struck by pain and shackled by struggle, but instead it turned into a set of common phrases - genius, because the genius, and the story of Michael Brown, which, if properly processed, could be one of those well-known stories, having little-explored sides, and from this becoming completely new stories, turned out to be a classic biopic, shot in a non-classical form, which succeeds in many moments and achieves many of its goals, but at the same time does not necessarily hold the attention of the film, until the beginning of the film is over again from the middle and you are the end, Michael decides from the beginning to the end.