One Could be thrilled just at the amazing way this film covered the spectacular career of one of the all time best, and how brilliantly Chadwick Boseman got into the portrayal, both emotionally and also how he replicated those dance moves. BUT to me the heart and soul of this film, which I was eagerly awaiting, was how much that little boy never vanished from the film. A key example of that was when he drove his pick up truck attempting to elude a convey of police officers, and when they finally got him, the younger version of himself got out of the car to surrender. The two scenes that brought tears to my eyes, were first the scene where young James encounters his long lost Mother, played by Viola Davis, after they had been separated for a period of time, and he calls out to her, pleading for her to recognize him, but she is there with some soldier who she has befriended one presumes to sell her body to, and this is where you see the genius of Viola Davis and her acting. (Was glad she recently won the Emmy for "Getting Away with Murder"). The soldier callously says to Voila when her son desperately reaches out due to their chance encounter "Do you know this little N word?" You see Ms Davis in some of the best acting with barely any words writhing in agony over the fact she is embarrassed to admit this is her own flesh and blood, and it pains her far more than young James, at least to my eye. That scene had me in tears and I rarely find myself crying while watching films. Then many years later Viola reappears at James dressing room when he is a full fledged star of music. She sips at champagne and is far more embarrassed and ashamed than the scene years earlier at the bordello. He suddenly asks her what she is doing there, since basically she has been a no show for most of his life. She doesn't really answer but cries profusely and it instantly occurs to James Brown his "Mom" want to get paid, she is just a hanger on, looking for a score. He gives her $100 and shoes her away, and she walks, tears streaming down, out of the dressing room with the same despair a person on death row has headed for their execution. Then we see Mr. Boseman and his incredible range of acting, when after she leaves, he is bent over at a sink weeping when it hits him how tragically sad this encounter has been. This is after he lies to her and basically says, "James Brown doesn't need anyone!!" In some ways the grown James Brown is still that little boy. (The acting by the boy who portrayed him as a child was really magnificent) His closest friend in the band comes in and James is horrified to show this level of vulnerability. He then tells him to make sure his Mom gets a cab home to Brooklyn. ~~Yes a great film on the life of James Brown, with all the highs and lows. The wife beating is repeated that he witnesses as a child watching his Dad abuse his Mom. Go to this film to remember the great music of one of the funkiest of all time, but leave with all the revelations of a very painful life. Chadwick Boseman did a terrific job in the Jackie Robinson film, and got inside that character as well. This viewing, probably my second came in very handy since I was dealing with a sad event in my life regarding a recent estrangement with a friend, and I was able to sob and weep over especially those two Boseman Davis scenes. Viola Davis has a lot of amazing film and TV roles to her credit, but I am anxious to see what Chadwick Boseman does next. This film is really to my mind worth 10 stars or more !!!