Get On Up -

: Critic A.O. Scott explores the film's "jukebox" narrative and how it handles Brown’s complicated relationship with race and his anthem "Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud" .

“The film shuffles back and forth through Brown's life with such breathless energy it's as if the screenplay itself is possessed by the spirit of Soul Brother No. 1.” The Film Experience Get on Up

: Many critics, including those from BBC Culture , highlight how the film uses music as a "low-down life force" and a form of "raw salvation" for Brown . : Critic A

“Boseman's remarkable approximation of Brown's reedy Georgialina drawl and quicksilver dance moves have attracted widespread acclaim, but it is his grasp of the singer's penetrating gaze that elevates several scenes beyond boilerplate drama.” Ethnomusicology Review · 11 years ago including those from BBC Culture

: The film heavily focuses on his 30-year friendship with Bobby Byrd (played by Nelsan Ellis), framing Byrd as the "conscience" of the story . Critical Perspectives

: Reviews often point out how the film connects Brown’s ruthless ambition to his "profound deprivation and abandonment" as a child .