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69% Critic Match
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
6.9 / 10• 2014• 1h 55m•NR• English
MusicDocumentary
Storyline
James Brown changed the face of American music forever. Abandoned by his parents at an early age, James Brown was a self-made man who became one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, not just through his music, but also as a social activist. Charting his journey from rhythm and blues to funk, MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN features rare and previously unseen footage, photographs and interviews, chronicling the musical ascension of “the hardest working man in show business,” from his first hit, “Please, Please, Please,” in 1956, to his iconic performances at the Apollo Theater, the T.A.M.I. Show, the Paris Olympia and more.
Cast & Crew
James Brown
Self (archive footage)
Lead
Bootsy Collins
Self
Chuck D
Self
Mick Jagger
Self
Questlove
Self
Bobby Byrd
Self
Melvin Parker
Self
Maceo Parker
Self
What People Are Saying
4.0
“A staggering achievement of craft and ambition. Alex Gibney's vision lands with breathtaking precision.”
3.0
“Every frame feels alive. Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown is the rare release that takes its audience seriously.”
