by allan tong for FILMbutton

It’s a surprise no one has made a major film about funk music until noted historian Nelson George with this one. He scores key interviews with bassist Bootsy Collins, George Clinton and the late, great James Brown, but the jewel in the crown is the reclusive and eccentric Sly Stone who looks unrecognizable. The film relies entirely on these interviews and throws factoids called Funk Chunks at the bottom of the screen which creates an unfortunate MTV feel. Sorely lacking is archival footage to show these musicians in their prime. However, funk and music fans won’t be sorry to hear these interviews and learn the history of funk.

Allan is a Toronto filmmaker, co-directing Leone Stars, a documentary about child victims of the Sierra Leonean civil war.