Aug 01,2014
A chronicle of James Browns rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history.
On route to the stage, singer James Brown recalls a life with a turbulent childhood where music was his only constructive release for his passions. A chance demonstration of that in prison led to a new friend who helped get him out and into a musical career. With his fire and creative daring, Brown became a star who defiantly created new possibilities in show business both on and behind the stage in face of racism and conventional thinking. Along the way, James would also become a peacemaker who redefined and raised the African-American communitys feeling of self-worth when it was needed most. However, those same domineering passions would lead James Brown alienating everyone around him as his appetites became ever more self-destructive. Only after he hit rock bottom with a serious mistake does Brown realize what he needs to do make his life as the Godfather of Soul truly worthwhile.
| nudity | A woman's bare chest is obstructed by her arms while smoking at a brothel. PG-13 A man and a woman are seen having sex very briefly. PG-13 A woman hints at having sex with a man. PG-13 Men and women kiss passionately in a few scenes. PG James Brown occasionally wears outfits that reveal his bare chest. PG A man discusses with another man how the latter's wife could have had sex with the former. PG/PG-13 A woman stands on a bed and attempts to entice a man with sex. PG-13 Advertising for a brothel occurs early in the movie. A man tells a woman to take her panties off in the middle of a fight. |
| violence | Men slap women during a few scenes. A man stole the shoe from the hanged man. A man robs a suit and is forced to go to prison. At prison, he gets into a fist fight that turns into a massive brawl. He is later shown with injuries in an infirmary. A man approaches a group of people with a shotgun in a threatening manner. He accidentally fires it into the ceiling. A man gets into a massive police chase. He crashes into several cars before stopping and is fired at by the police. One scene includes the brandishing and trashing of musical stands and equipment after a heated argument. Adolescent boys of color are put in a boxing ring with one hand tied behind their backs, blindfolded, and made to fight for the amusement of affluent white people. |
| profanity | 6-10 uses of sh*t. Many racial slurs including five or so uses of n*gger. The phrase "f*ck you" is used twice in rapid succession. |
| alcohol | Many people are seen smoking and drinking alcohol. A man rolls marijuana and crystal meth into a blunt and smokes it briefly. Several men are shown inebriated in a few scenes. |
| frightening | Argument scenes are rather intense between character are very intense. Thematic material having to due with James' early life will disturb some. |
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