Film Review - "Michael"

 Well it's been a minute since I've done one of these...

Michael

Directed by Antonie Fuqua

Starring Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, and Nia Long

Admittedly, it's fun sometimes to jump on the bandwagon and dunk on a film that's getting torn apart by audiences...it's also fun sometimes to be in the minority and defend such films. With Michael...I don't really feel like doing either.

I love the music of Michael Jackson. He was the first artist whose music and identity I knew and followed. That is probably in some credit to Alvin & The Chipmunks (90's kids know what I'm talking about). I could tell you where I was the day he died. My family was vacationing in the Dominican Republic, and we were curious why they were playing so much of his music at the resort. However, with all that said, I had little to no interest in this biopic. It was the online discourse that finally got me into the theater.

Michael Jackson was a big personality, with many levels to his life and identity. Michael, chooses to focus on his early life, rise to fame, and struggle to break away from the control of his father Joseph Jackson (Domingo). 

There has been a lot of talk (understatement of the year) on the film's decision to pull a hard-stop right at the time of the 1988 Bad World Tour, and not cover the later, darker years of his life, allegations included. Regardless of where you sit on the allegations, it's naive to think a major Hollywood motion picture, especially one produced by his family and starring his nephew, would tackle them, let alone tackle them well. Because, and other people online have said this more eloquently, there's no way to pull that off in satisfying way. The film would have to sit on the fence and keep it ambiguous. It leans one way or the other, it becomes revisionist history or propaganda. And to be honest, would there be an audience that would want to see a narrative film that tackles the King of Pop being accused of acts "especially heinous"? Personally I lean towards "no" but a sequel is on the way, which is a whole other issue. 

This is not a cinematic universe or franchise this is a man's life, and to tease that life, this man's life, as sequel bait? Bad form. Should Micheal 2 ever happen in this lifetime, I am not optimistic at all of the filmmakers handling any of it, especially if it's the same production team involved.

Alright, with that out of the way, how is the film we're left with? It's fine. A passable, by-the-numbers biopic...and for Michael Jackson, that's arguably unacceptable. First of all, the two leads, Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo are great. Jackson is the second coming of his uncle. I say that with some hesitation because the voice is so iconic, and so spot-on, it borderlines satire. That said the performance is captivating. The singing, the dancing, and the heart of Michael Jackson is on full-display. Domingo is both charismatic and terrifying as Joseph Jackson. I would not be surprised if these two squeaked through into awards season.

Avoiding the allegations aside, the film does make some questionable choices. For example, how is it that Bubbles the monkey gets more time devoted to him in the script that the likes of Barry Gordy or Quincy Jones. The film chooses to focus on his early life with the Jackson 5, but his siblings are barely characters in the film. Jermaine's solo career is dropped in a throwaway line. LaToya is lucky enough to get one scene. Janet isn't even in the film but I understand that was her choice. Also, if we're going to avoid the allegations, please tell me why, there are so. many. allusions to Neverland...and apparently Michael Jackson was a HUGE Disney fan. That's one of two things I took away from Michael. The second being he orchestrated a temporary truce between the Crips and Bloods for the making of the "Beat It" music video.

That's where I really enjoyed the film was when they showed him crafting the music videos for "Beat It" and "Thriller". The latter tho, they don't really do anything special except recreate the music video shot-for -shot. It's the equivalent of...doing "Under The Sea" in the Little Mermaid remake, and I think the concept of a Disney live-action remake is the perfect comparison for Michael. It's mostly style, with not that much substance.

I can't say I loved or hated Michael but I don't regret seeing it. I think it was perfectly passible for a Saturday matinee. I would watch it again if it pops up on cable, or it gets added to one of my streaming services, but I wouldn't spend my money on a Blu-Ray or DVD. The life of Michael Jackson deserves a better adaptation for the big-screen...but realistically, I don't think we could ever get it.

...but oh my god The Sheep Detectives?! Guys, early frontrunner for my favorite film of the year. You know, if I ever do a write-up on my favorite films of the year. What was the last one I did....2021, in 2024, good lord...