6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
A chronicle of James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Lennie JamesMusic | 100% |
Biography | 93% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
UV digital copy
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
The "singer biopic" is an ever-growing industry almost all to itself, each film telling the sensational stories of a rise to fame, often in the face of various personal hardships and both self-created and externally manufactured roadblocks on the way to the top. Movies like Ray and Walk the Line earned near universal acclaim and pocketed several Oscar wins and a number of additional nominations in their portrayals of Ray Charles and Johnny Cash, respectively. More recent pictures like the excellent The Sapphires follow the tradition, and acclaimed Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby) is said to be at work on a biopic of perhaps the most iconic performer of all time, Elvis Presley, which would certainly be the king of the biopic, conditionally, of course, provided it were to live up to what would undoubtedly be more than lofty expectations. Yet other than Elvis and perhaps Michael Jackson and The Beatles, there's no 20th century musical talent so deserving of the movie treatment than James Brown, heralded as "the hardest working man in show business" and "The Godfather of Soul," a performer who redefined the musical landscape, influenced generations of musicians to follow, and left an indelible mark not only on the industry, but the entire world. Get on Up is an excellent tribute to the late star, a tight, gripping feature that ranks with the best of them (despite its Oscar nomination shutout) as a fun, informative, and wildly enthusiastic look at an American icon as told through snapshots of his life, from early childhood to the years approaching his death on Christmas Day 2006.
Livin' in a man's world.
Get on Up's 1080p transfer, sourced from a digital shoot, looks fantastic. It's clean and precise, appearing only the slightest bit "digital flat." The image produces outstandingly crisp and accurate details, which include the finest little textures on clothes, small flaws and bits of wear on various surfaces, fallen leaves and green vegetation, and of course faces which reveal with pinpoint accuracy every bead of sweat, pore, line, and bit of makeup. Colors are sparkling, a touch warm, as many period pieces tend to reveal, but showing lifelike accuracy otherwise and a pleasing vibrance that brings out primaries and more nuanced shades alike with perceptible realism. Black levels are generally deep with only one or two shots appearing to drift a little too pale. Skin tones are never problematic in color. The image appears free of blockiness and features only minimal noise and banding (predominantly emanating from a bright light source pointed directly at the camera). In short, this is a terrific presentation from Universal.
Sound is unsurprisingly key in Get on Up, and Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is up to the challenge of bringing the movie's ambitious soundtrack to life. The track is big, dynamic, and fully engaging, not only in its musical delivery but in many support pieces that are just as important and just as sonically well designed. The movie begins with voices drifting around the stage, placed with care and precision in any and all of the speakers in the 5.1 configuration. A shotgun blast that follows near film's open hits hard and violently so, as does a blast from a revolver a bit later on. During a sequence featuring Brown en route to entertain troops in Vietnam, his plane comes under anti-airfraft fire. Shells can be heard zipping all over the listening area, popping far from and near to the aircraft. An explosion a few moments later is as tough and deeply pronounced as most any similar effect that might be heard in a War film. But it's the music that truly excels. Instrument clarity is rich and precise throughout the range, playing with a full, effortless big stage sensation that easily transports the listener to both the recording studio and, particularly, the performance hall. Vocals are rich and detailed in that classic James Brown tone. Crowd cheers and other assorted noises associated with the performances are lively and satisfying as they fully engulf the listener into the experience. Light ambient effects help better shape some lower-key scenes, particularly those depicting a young James Brown in his woodland surroundings. Dialogue delivery is crisp and flows efficiently from the center channel. This is a superb soundtrack that's of reference quality every step of the way.
Get on Up contains a healthy variety of supplements. A DVD and an iTunes/UV digital copy code are included in the Blu-ray case.
Get on Up is an intoxicating movie experience, a film that proudly displays both an enthusiasm for its subject and a professionalism in its careful construction (though the film's historical accuracy has been subject of much debate and online key-crunching). It's a movie centered on shaping a life, not simply depicting a life. It's not simply about high energy music but rather finding the soul within The Godfather of Soul. It's no so much about what made him a great performer -- that's a gift from above -- but rather what made him find it, embrace it, pursue it, and make it his life, including all of the ups and downs that come with stardom and the pressures of life in the spotlight. The film is solidified by an exceptionally strong performance from Chadwick Boseman that digs beyond externals and demonstrates a rare understanding of the subject well beyond the things for which James Brown is known. This is a complete, highly satisfying motion picture that should rightly be remembered alongside the best of the ever-growing subset of singer biopics. Universal's Blu-ray is equally impressive. Terrific video, engaging audio, and a healthy array of extra content make this a must-own package and one of the best releases yet in 2015. Highly recommended.
2022
2004
2018
2017
2015
2015
2019
2015
2018
2015
2022
1989
with Bonus Disc
2012
The Final Cut
1991
1985
2014
2024
1987
2019
1987