Soul Power

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Soul Power

PG-13

2009

1h 33m

Documentary

Music

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Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

79%

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2,500+ Ratings

In Zaire, James Brown, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, the Spinners and others perform in a three-day concert preceding 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Among the songs performed are "Soul Power," "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," "The Click Song" and "Payback."

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Critics Consensus

Featuring some incredible performances from many 70s soul legends, Soul Power is an exhilarating snap-shot of a bygone era.

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Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Soul Power turns out to be an unusually resonant time capsule, one that weaves together theatrics, musicianship, cosmopolitanism and sharp political critique in a vibrant look-back that's at once celebratory and wistful.

Aug 14, 2009

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Joe Williams

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It's impossible not to be moved.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 13, 2009

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Dan DeLuca

Philadelphia Inquirer

It packs the emotional and historical power of a heady 'family gathering' celebration of African and, to use the term then in fashion, Afro-American pride.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 30, 2009

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

... worth catching for its awesome views of B.B. King ("The Thrill is Gone") and soul daddy James Brown in the time capsule of 1974 Zaire.

Jun 18, 2020

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Soul Power is a window into a time when anything seemed possible.

Aug 26, 2011

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Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

B.B. King. Bill Withers. Miriam Makeba. Celia Cruz. And James Brown, earning every inch of the title, "Godfather of Soul," who all by himself probably deforested a few acres around Kinshasa with the volcanic blast of his set.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 13, 2009

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Audience Member

Not only is this documentary about a legendary music / sports event in Zaire pulsing, unbiased, joyous, and socially powerful; it also has the distinction of having the greatest bongo solo ever caught on film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Companion piece to the Ali Foreman doc 'When We Were Kings' focusing on the music festival of Zaire 1974. As much as the footage is good it's not until the later parts does this really get going with the arrival of James Brown - I only wish the whole of his set was released instead!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

An important musical time capsule.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Feel good movie of ever. I want to climb into the screen

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

This is a time capsule of the 70s like no other, and should be recognized for the cultural and musical event that it is, right alongside the Rumble in the Jungle's status among fights. Watch through the credits - James Brown will infuse you with soul power (mustache not included).

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

(***): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] An entertaining documentary with some good music performances.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

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Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte

Director

Leon Gast

Self

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Self

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Synopsis

In Zaire, James Brown, B.B. King, Miriam Makeba, the Spinners and others perform in a three-day concert preceding 1974's "Rumble in the Jungle" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Among the songs performed are "Soul Power," "One of a Kind (Love Affair)," "The Click Song" and "Payback."

Director: Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte
Producer: Leon Gast, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte, David Sonenberg
Screenwriter: Stewart Levine
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Antidote Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Thematic Elements|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 10, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $206.8K
Runtime: 1h 33m

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