It’s difficult for a biopic to stand out due to the high standard set by previous films of the genre, and yet Get on Up manages to do this through one element, and that is the central performance from Chadwick Boseman. The film itself is solid and it is clearly based on a passion for the music, but what really holds it together is Boseman’s performance, because he is utterly fantastic. It wasn’t just an impression of James Brown, it was complete immersion into the role and it showed audiences that he can drive a film.
Adam Lester. 