Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Musical docu has great performances, strong vocab.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MR. DYNAMITE: THE RISE OF JAMES BROWN is an HBO documentary about the Godfather of Soul. Filmmaker Alex Gibney takes an in-depth look at the rise of the singer from his humble beginnings in the segregated South to becoming a musical star and activist. With the help of photographs, video footage, music recordings, and excerpts of many of his high-energy musical performances, viewers can both see and hear how Brown went from being an impoverished child to a superstar. Interviews with historians, musicians who toured with him, and people such as Mick Jagger, Reverend Al Sharpton, and others who were influenced by his music and style add to the portrait.
Is It Any Good?
James Brown fans will get a kick out of watching him sing, dance, and showboat as only he knew how to do. From seeing him perform on the "chitlin' circuit" (a network of venues where African-American entertainers could perform in the segregated South) in the early 1960s to appealing to a national audience on the Ed Sullivan Show, the documentary highlights the key moments in James Brown's musical career that define his success. In between musical performances, Mr. Dynamite examines how the racial segregation he experienced in his youth influenced his role in the American civil rights movement. The controversial way the singer and his music served as an assertion of Black pride also is explored.
Devoted music enthusiasts will appreciate the conversations about Brown's unique sound and style and the way he worked with artists to produce that sound, which combines soul, jazz, swing, funk, and other styles and which influenced artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Public Enemy, Bruno Mars, and countless others. It's great fun, though if you don't care for the singer or his music, chances are you'll lose interest before the film's over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the people and music who influence today's musicians. Who, besides James Brown, has influenced the music industry in the last 75 years? What is the impact they have had on the music we listen to?
Is James Brown a role model? What are his admirable qualities? What traits make his less likable?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 10, 2015
- Cast : Mick Jagger , Al Sharpton , James Brown
- Director : Alex Gibney
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Music Group
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : History , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 120 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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