SFF NOTES: Miss Sharon Jones! (2015, Dir. Barbara Kopple)

The fact that Miss Sharon Jones! opened with one of those generic entertainment news voiceover introductions had me super worried. Not to fear though. Barbara Kopple's documentary feature covering the Dap Kings frontwoman isn't a chintzy puff piece. It is not a traditional rise to stardom situation either. Instead, Kopple focusses almost wholly on Jones' recent battles with cancer and the determination with which she has pushed herself back on the stage.

That may sound like a grueling watch, and let's face it watching a lively woman suffering through repeated bouts of chemo is never fun, but Jones' fierceness and her defiant humour keep things bubbling along. As does a fair chunk of Daptones back-of-house history.

With all this in mind, Miss Sharon Jones! is a pretty run of the mill documentary feature. What it lacks in panache it gains in access and intimacy. Scenes of Jones performing are a sight to behold. Anyone who has seen her out front of the Dap Kings knows she gives it her all. There is little wonder she's been dubbed the female James Brown, and bostered by the knowledge that she has slammed cancer, her let-loose performances are even more arresting.

The woman can belt. A couple of minutes in church (her first visit post-chemo) is next level stuff. So, definitely come for the show, just be warned that the focus is pretty tight on the big C. Other aspects of the fight, especially the sidelining of the Dap Kings through the treatment, could have been fleshed out slightly more, as could some of Jones' extraordinary history - then that wouldn't have been this film.

What we do get here should certainly be applauded. For fans and for anyone fans drag along, who will soon be fans. Sharon will do that.

★★★

Miss Sharon Jones! screened as part of the Sydney Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.