matt11791

Just want to start by saying that this really is a terrific picture. Well shot, well made, tells the Brown story to a T all the greatest hits and lowest points of his life. This film does feature a fatal flaw however. It is edited in the poorest of fashion. The way it jumps all about from year to year blows throw the point of being a distraction to being something that both detracts from and ruins an otherwise terrific movie. Classic case of someone being too clever for their own good.

"Ray" and "Walk the Line" tell (for the most part) an in order, hit by hit tale of their subjects careers, with some flashback sequences. So this movie trying to do something different makes sense in that they are trying to separate themselves from "normal" music biopics. In doing so, they really failed everyone they were working with and I can't believe no one stepped in to make a more coherent movie of this great material and subject matter.

If they ever come along with a "chronological" cut of this movie, I will happily give it 9 stars, and stop my day to check it out. As is, 5 and a hard but fair 5 for some of the worst editing of what could have been great movie that we will ever see.