If you haven't watched "Get On Up" (2014) yet, please do yourself a favor and see it as soon as possible.

I never imagined that the two leads of "Get On Up", Chadwick Boseman and Nelsan Ellis would both pass away a number of years apart. Yet here we are.

I'll be honest, I really didn't know much about James Brown before this movie, but after watching it, his journey and his legacy still stick with me, years after seeing the film. Sadly, the movie barely made back its budget when it was originally released, but it deserves a cult following status.

Boseman plays Brown, and I will go to my grave with the belief that Boseman should have been at least nominated for Best Actor that year. If you've only ever seen Boseman as Black Panther or Jackie Robinson, you are missing out. His voice and mannerisms and attitude, Boseman has down to a T. Like Brown himself possessed Boseman's body to play this role.

Ellis plays Bobby Byrd, a singer who helps James get out of prison (for stealing a suit) and takes him in, even letting him join The Famous Flames, and sticks by James' side, even when James' popularity soars and Bobby becomes more second-fiddle to James' career. It's heartbreaking but also inspiring to watch.

The music is amazing, the musical numbers (which Boseman did all his own dancing and some singing for) are unforgettable and you'll have to resist dancing along to, the cinematography is gorgeous, the writing is tight, and the directing is 100% on point. It's also very funny and has tons of great one-liners. In the U.S., the movie is available for streaming on HBO Go/Now/Max and DirecTV.

I'm saddened to hear about Boseman's death. We lost an amazing performer who was rising higher and higher. But you can keep your Wakanda Forever's. I'll be singing, "Get up, get on up, get on the scene, get on up..."

Submitted August 29, 2020 at 11:16AM by MySockHurts https://ift.tt/3baPVL0