Capturing the site, the sounds, the smells, and the sweat of a major musical happening, Soul Power is irresistible.
Comment
07/10/09
Soul Power (2009)
84
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:69
Fresh:58
Rotten:11
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: Featuring some incredible performances from many 70s soul legends, Soul Power is an exhilarating snap-shot of a bygone era.
Theatrical Release:Jul 10, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $23,893
Synopsis: Though the eyes of the world were on "The Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974, their ears should have been on Zaire '74, the mammoth music festival that took place in the shadow of the battle between... [More]
Starring: James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz
Director: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte
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Reviews for Soul Power
Busting with footage left in legal limbo for over three decades, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte’s documentary is uproarious and uplifting.
07/10/09
While Soul Power is bound to be compared to the Oscar-winning Ali/Foreman documentary When We Were Kings, it never scales the same heights.
07/10/09
Ali motormouth footage left over from When We Were Kings. Actually, this whole film was made from WWWK leftovers, we learn. But we manage to forget that detail whenever the music soars.
07/10/09
Offers a vivid glimpse of a fascinating moment in musical history, racial politics and global pop culture.
07/10/09
Top CriticUnseen for 35 years, its spectacle is undimmed, and you can pick many highlights.
07/10/09
Flavourful behind the scenes footage mingles with infectious concert performances to make this a very welcome record of a unique piece of music history.
07/10/09
It doesn't disappoint. The line-up reads like a Who's Who of 70s soul and R&B. And the sound quality's shockingly good.
07/10/09
Some fascinating behind-the-scenes footage and some astonishing performances.
07/10/09
A compilation of captivating performances by legendary titans of music, "Soul Power" shows the real power of soul.
07/09/09
The well-preserved (or well-restored) footage, and the simple joy of the artists, easily put any misgivings in the shade.
07/09/09
[Soul Power], even with its classic performers and songs, falls short of sparking the thrill it should.
07/09/09
Soul Power is marvelous, and no wonder -- among the performers in this concert film are James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Miriam Makeba and Celia Cruz, all at the peak of their powers.
07/09/09
Top CriticSoul Power is worth seeing -- and hearing -- for the evocation of an era and above all, for the exuberant and infectious performances.
07/09/09
What's infectious in Soul Power is the almost shocking optimism of its America-meets- Africa '70s world-beat vibe.
07/09/09
Top CriticA lively and entertaining documentary about a three-day concert of R & B music held in 1974 in Zaire, Africa.
07/09/09
Soul Power works fabulously as both a concert film and a time capsule of a time and place when gods of black masculinity joined forces to make an international statement of togetherness.
07/09/09
documents the bass line running under the absurdly politicized, hyper-kinetic boxing match that found Muhammed Ali facing off against then-titan George Forman
07/09/09
Likeable documentary that serves as a fascinating companion piece to When We Were Kings.
07/09/09
James Brown so totally owns the festival documentary Soul Power, grunting and squealing under the credits and vulcanizing the stage in a climactic performance.
07/08/09
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