One of the highly anticipated film releases of this year is a biopic centered around the early days and the iconic rise of the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. Best known for iconic songs such as “Thriller,” “Billie Jean,” “Smooth Criminal” and many others, this man has a legacy amongst the general populace as one of the greatest and beloved artists of all time.
I myself have been a big MJ fan all my life, to the point my parents spent a bucketload of money to take me to an impersonator concert so I can see my idol perform in some shape or form. So imagine my delight when my parents offered to take me to see this film on a Sunday afternoon. Naturally, I said yes right on the dang spot.
Starting off with the positives, the cast was amazing. The biggest standouts for me were (obviously) Jaafar Jackson (who, fun fact, is Michael’s nephew) as the King of Pop himself, and Colman Domingo as his father, Joseph. These two really helped sell the writing of this film and singlehandedly carried this film’s main dramatic storyline. I especially find Jaafar’s performance impressive because, for a guy who’s only experience on camera is reality shows and music videos, he really captures the essence of his late uncle. From his endearing charm, his passion for music and the unique way he dances, Jaafar really gave it his all as Michael in a performance that in my book, is definitely worthy of a Best Actor nomination (and cross my fingers, win) for this year’s Oscar season.
Colman’s performance was also no slouch. From the minute he appears on screen, he effortlessly steps into the shoes of the Jackson’s abusive and manipulative patriarch in a performance that tops Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs legendary performance in the Jackson family biopic, “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” His scenes with Jaafar are especially electrifying, as Domingo and Jaafar’s unique dynamic helps elevate the drama they were tasked to recreate on the silver screen. Overall, he definitely deserves a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The overall presentation and use of Jackson’s music catalog from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s was also a major highlight. The way this film recreates some of Jackson’s most iconic moments in his career, from the filming of the music videos of “Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough” and “Thriller,” to his iconic Motown 25 performance of “Billie Jean,” is absolutely mind-blowing and stunning. The moments leading up to the creation of some of his iconic songs were also notable highlights. “Beat It” is especially notable, as the film’s earnest presentation of the moment where Michael gets his inspiration from watching a news report about the tragedies of gang violence was extremely moving and heartbreaking to watch.
Overall, the film manages to tell Michael’s early years fairly well. However, there are some crucial negatives. Some aspects of Michael’s life have either been changed (e.g: the person who discovers Michael and his brothers, how Michael’s manager got fired, when he adopted his monkey) or straight up removed altogether (such as the fact he had four additional siblings (including his sister Janet), his relationship with Diana Ross, and his time on the film “The Wiz”). In addition, some crucial aspects, such as his struggles with body dysmorphia and drug addiction, are barely expanded on aside from a single scene.
Most of these story problems stem from the fact that this film initially wasn’t set to only tell Michael’s early years. Beneath the sequined gloved legacy he was able to mostly maintain up to the present day, there is a hidden dark side to his life that has notoriously plagued this Hollywood retelling of this iconic singer. Up until his death in 2009, MJ’s career since the early 1990s has been filled with controversies that taint his otherwise impressive career; with the biggest one being the 1993 allegations of inappropriate behavior by one Jordan Chandler, a 13-year-old child who Michael was close with at the time. This case led to Jackson’s image becoming severely damaged, and led him to experience a steady downfall in popularity until his death.
Leading up to the film’s release, there have been big debates on how the film was gonna handle this delicate subject without favoring one side over the other. So naturally, when it was reported that the film’s original third act was completely scrapped due to a late-stage legal clause implemented by the family of the child in question, barring any depiction of the allegations, many wonder if these events would ever be tackled by the filmmakers.
Ultimately, the film never addresses the 1993 allegations toward Jackson and winds up ending his story during the beginning of his “Bad” era, which understandably polarized some critics.
Honestly, I see both sides of the coin when it comes to this situation. I understand that one side wants to make sure Michael’s positive impact on the world and the overall good aspects of his legacy are still upheld, all while at the same respecting the legal boundaries of others. But on the other hand, I think it’s also important to address the flaws of people, no matter how highly regarded they are. Because these things are never forgotten in the eyes of ordinary people, and it’s important to address them properly, no matter how damaging it can be to one’s worldview.
Personally, in the midst of it all, I nevertheless enjoyed this film. Despite not telling the entirety of his life, I thought it still captured some of the critical inner struggles of the man behind the glove, such as the effects of his tumultuous relationship with father, his lack of a real childhood and the overall expression of his creative and personal freedom, factors that all led to what happened both on and offscreen. Therefore, despite not covering every single flaw, the ones they managed to show us still paint a good picture on how he ended up this way, all while still highlighting the positive impacts he made on the world at large, something I believe both sides can agree on.
In conclusion, Michael, despite not telling the whole story, nevertheless does a good and entertaining job at showing us why Michael Jackson is seen the way he is today. Therefore, I give this film a 7.5/10 rating.
