By: Jamie Steinberg
The legend of iconic pop star Michael Jackson is larger than life. In the past, there have been a few movies made about the rise to fame of the Jackson family; however, the latest iteration – simply titled Michael – by director Antoine Fuqua follows just that of the troubled yet insanely talented family member by that name. The movie Michael looks to give a new perspective on the man who came to be known as “The King of Pop.”
We begin the story of Michael Jackson at ten years old (Juliano Valdi) where we learn that his arrested development seemed to originate after reading the book Peter Pan in bed by flashlight in the family’s home in Gary, Indiana. We then move on with Michael being portrayed by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who does an outstanding job of embodying his uncle in both acting and performance as he goes on tour in the late 80’s for the album Bad. If you’re looking for the film to cover the more salacious aspects of Michael Jackson’s life you won’t find it here as the movie is more focused on Michael’s independence from his controlling father.
Performances do shine by Jaafar Jackson, as previously mentioned, and that of Miles Teller as attorney John Branca and Colman Domingo as the ever controlling, violent and severely strict Joe Jackson. Additionally, lifelong fans of Michael Jackson that remain in awe of his musical talents will surely be impressed by Jaafar’s likeness to his uncle. Most memorable moments come from watching the video choreography for “Thiller” and the gang members learning to dance for the “Beat It” video. One of my qualms with the film is that Janet Jackson is notably missing from it. Another issue is with the poor use of CGI versions of Michael’s animal companions in a giraffe, python, llama and Michael’s beloved chimp companion Bubbles.
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009, far too soon for his fans yet the end of the film alludes to a story continuation, so Fuqua seems to have more in store for Jackson lovers. If you were looking for more of a vast look into the Jackson family dynamics, then I would recommend going back and revisiting past films such as The Jacksons: An American Dream. Michael‘s focus is truly shining a light on the man who so many of us came to admire and continue to grieve his monumental loss.