Hollywood’s coffin chasers are on the prowl. With the death of James Brown, now comes the rush to make a movie about him. Variety reports today that director Spike Lee has signed to direct a James Brown biopic. They could have at least let the body get cold before announcing it.
They already have a script which has been through many revisions, and James Brown himself was reportedly actively involved in its development. But Spike will rewrite it himself to make it not suck.
Paramount is funding it and along with the rights to Brown’s life they bought the rights to use his music in a movie about him. Brown’s life contains the requisite amount of drug use and legal trouble that has become the formula for making movies like this. Mix that with his music and we’ve got more of the same, unless Spike can find something new to do with the genre.
Spike could have the whole thing in production by late 2007, though 2008 is more likely. That’ll put it in theaters for late 2008 or 2009. I guess we’ll still remember James Brown, but won’t we be sick to death of musician biopics by then? I already am.
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isnt James Brown just a glorified wife-beater? yes let's celebrate another over rated dead guy....i mean 'living in america'? that song sucked so much.
uh, Dindi? James Brown was 73 when he died and yes, he did have some marital problems not unlike millions of other people. About being "just" a glorified wife-beater? uh, no, not quite. James has been putting out dozens of hit records since the early 60's. And while "Living in America" was not even close to one of his better songs, he did win a grammy for that. The reason he won a grammy for that is because in my opinion, the white people who control that industry realized rather late they were in recognizing his talent and wanted to "jump on the bandwagon", it was too late by then, that song is not even CLOSE to his earlier work. As for "over-rated" you're simply just wrong on that account. There is no one in Black music, soul music, hip-hop or any other type of music that has come close to his accomplishments, except perhaps Elvis, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Beatles, Rolling Stones. . . yes, Living In America did suck, but that was only one of about 300 songs. If you're hung up on his drug use or his marital problems or his police record then you are entitled to that, but don't put down is artistic ability and achievements.
aside from the amount of 'uh's in your essay I found nothing to dissuade me from my opinion. I would like to add that for me there are many people with marital problems yes and I grew up seeing wife beating first hand (boo hoo, poor me lalala) and if you're telling me that millions of people beating their wives is forgiveable provided there is some sort of artistic/creative output then it is you who is simply wrong. As for his artistic ability I saw him embarrass himself on Jonathan Ross recently (performing with his considerably younger than him and equally embarrassing singing wife - she also sang most of the lead apart from where James did his 'owwww' thing - amazing!) and Living in America got a grammy because it was in some rubbish boxing sequel that made millions of dollars. Anyway, obviously you are entitled to your opinion and I guess that's what this sort of thing's all about! Happy new year!
His early career was great, but the fame did go to his head and he began abusing women and doing un-respectable things. I Got You and Papa's Got A Brand New Bag are staples of Soul and Dance music as were soem of his songs like Hot Pants and Sex machine, but as his career went on he didn't do anymore great stuff. A biopic should detail the good the bad and the ugly as did the movie What's Love Got To Do With It about Tina Turner and Malcom X and others. The one on Charlie Parker called The Bird did a good job depicting his Heroin addicting which lead to his death. May this movie be like that and not suck. The Ray Charles one was good, but not compeletly factual and only focused on one period of his life. May this one be even better.
in response to tony. how dare you trivialise wife beating by refering to it as 'having marital problems like millions of other people.' this is clearly living in denial and completely trying to downplay and undermine the seriousnes of what he done. why dont you say it like it is? he wasnt a man with 'marital problems', he was a wife beater, two completely different things. and to say 'like millions of other people' agian tries to defend wife beating and implies that its no big deal because lots of other poele do it. yes millions of people have marital problems but most of them dont decide to use thier wife as a punch bag in response. he was a musical genius and im a big fan of james brown the musician, and id like to be a fan of james brown the man cause im sure he didnt mean to be bad, but he did what he did. hes responsible for his actions. if what he did doesnt bother you thats your business, but please dont insult the victims of this horendous crime by not acknowledging the severity of it.
James Brown was so overrated. Godfather of soul...pleeeeease...that title rightfully belongs to Sam Cooke, who was there irst, but had the misfortune to die young and still had more claasic songs than Brown.
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Hollywood’s coffin chasers are on the prowl. With the death of James Brown, now comes the rush to make a movie about him. Variety reports today that director Spike Lee has signed to direct a James Brown biopic. They could have at least let the body get cold before announcing it.
December 28th, 2006 at 11:12
isnt James Brown just a glorified wife-beater? yes let's celebrate another over rated dead guy....i mean 'living in america'? that song sucked so much.