Why everyone should go and watch ‘Get On Up’

The Godfather of Soul aka James Brown is one of the most seminal musicians of the 20th century and has influenced a plethora of artists and bands active today. He started out as a gospel singer and founded a gospel quartet while he was incarcerated in a juvenile detention centre, after being convicted of robbery. After Brown was granted early parole he joined his first band; The Famous Flames and the rest, as they say, is history.

Get On Up stars unknown Chadwick Boseman as Brown and Nelson Ellis as Bobby Byrd, Brown’s long time confidante and fellow singer. The film chronicles Brown’s life from his impoverished beginnings in rural South Carolina – to international super stardom. The film also examines how his predilection for drugs, a gruelling work work schedule and fast living often threatened his ability to perform.

Rags to riches stories are a dime a dozen – but Brown’s tale is like few others. He courted controversy his whole life due to his straight talking narratives on the civil rights movement and his support for Republicans Strom Thurmond and Richard Nixon. He was a true believer in the American Dream and if anybody truly ever lived that dream it was James Brown.