Blu-ray Movie Reviews

By their very nature, biopics are a mixed bag. On the one hand, they tell the story of a person in the limelight with achievements viewers are familiar with, while on the other, they explore sides of the person that have typically escaped the public eye. Striking the right balance between the two is the key. Get on Up takes a look at the life of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, a man whose musical legacy can be heard and felt in almost every bit of popular music today. The film jumps liberally between different periods of Brown’s life in anecdotal form, covering his childhood, his meteoric rise to stardom, the fall, the comeback, and everything in between. While it feels a bit disjointed at times, the film nonetheless manages to draw a portrait of Brown and what drove him to become one of the most recognizable names in music.

The beauty of musical biopics is that they typically include a lot of concert footage, replete with colorful and dynamic stage lighting, and Get on Up offers prime eye candy during those moments. Combined with Chadwick Boseman’s energetic re-creation of Brown’s onstage persona, they are pure gold. Powerful colors never bleed, and the transfer is incredibly detailed.

In contrast, sequences of Brown’s childhood, the character behind the stage, as well as his personal affairs and struggles all display a beautiful color palette that instantly conjures up a sense of nostalgia. It perfectly balances the movie, as it attempts to draw a cinematic portrait of a legend, and the 1.85:1 widescreen presentation continues to impress with incredible richness and detail throughout.

The glamour of Brown’s showmanship is, naturally, complemented by his inimitable shuffles and grooves. For that purpose, the release dishes out a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, bringing Brown’s sonic fireworks to your living room like you’ve never heard them before. Impeccably remixed and remastered, these musical numbers will invariably make your feet tap. Subtle ambience and strong directional effects also distinguish this track, breathing life into every scene.

If you feel the movie’s plot distracts from the core of the film—Brown’s legendary music—fear not: The Blu-ray extras include full song performances for us to enjoy, along with an audio commentary from director/producer Tate Taylor and a handful of deleted scenes.

Blu-Ray
Studio: Universal, 2014
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 139 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Tate Taylor
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Viola Davis