“Michael” Misses a Note
There are few singers who garner such strong opinions as Michael Jackson. A list of his accolades would be longer than this review. He redefined what it means to be a superstar and wrote the blueprint for many of today’s singers. It’s honestly surprising that it took this long for a music biopic about him to come out, but Michael has finally arrived. Development began in 2019, with the official announcement coming from Lionsgate Films in February of 2022. Setbacks regarding the content of the script delayed the film even further, but it’s time for Michael to take the stage once again.
Michael begins in the early days of the Jackson Five band. Jackie (Nathaniel Logan McIntyre), Tito (Judah Edwards), Jermaine (Jayden Harville), Marlon (Jaylen Lyndon Hunter), and Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi) are huddled together on one half of the Jackson family living room in Gary, Indiana. On a couch on the other side of the room is Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo). He’s the mastermind who is ruthlessly forming these boys into a band that will be the family’s ticket out of this dead-end town. While his tactics are rooted in violence, anger, and brutality, he’s right that there’s something special about his children. The film shows the early fame of the Jackson Five as it balloons into Michael’s (Jaafar Jackson) solo success as an adult. The crux of the film lies in the push and pull of Michael’s desire to honor his family, yet spread his wings.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
For those who never saw Michael Jackson in concert when he was alive and have grown tired of watching videos of old performances, Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle is the closest thing to bringing Michael back to life. In the moments when the camera lingers on Jaafar’s face, it’s uncanny how much he looks like Michael.
There’s clear admiration for the career Michael had and the music he created. Michael faithfully recreates iconic looks from the “Thriller” music video, a performance of “Bad” in London, and more. Much like Raimi Malek’s flawless replication of Freddie Mercury at the Queen’s Live Aid performance, Jaafar’s performance sequences give the viewer the sensation of being there during these important moments in Jackson’s career. It’s the closest we have to a time machine.
The flipside of the film is what’s not being said. Like most biopics, Michael struggles with seeing Michael Jackson as a fully-realized human. He’s painted with a broad brush that doesn’t allow the viewer to get a deeper understanding of this man. It’s not even a matter of whether the filmmakers wanted to or were legally allowed to include his court cases, but Michael simplifies much of Jackson’s experience. The conflict is boiled down to violence at the hands of Joe, but even as the film goes on, he’s given comedic moments that had the audience laughing. Michael’s idea to invite Bloods and Crips into the same space during the height of the Los Angeles gang wars is merely inspired by him seeing a news report that makes him sad. So much is glossed over, and what’s left is a series of beautifully, meticulously crafted music sequences with little narrative drive beneath.
Courtesy of Lionsgate
Michael easily answers the call of celebrating the career of Michael Jackson. For those who aren’t familiar with his work or music and are interested in learning more about the singer, Michael struggles. But then, so do most biopics. It’s a genre that favors bold swings in the form of something like Better Man, or even the bombastic insanity of Elvis. Michael is fairly restrained, but if the reaction at this screening is any indicator, it’s an instant hit for fans of the King of Pop.
The film ends on a note that makes the viewer think this isn’t the end. “His story continues,” the postscript reads. Early rumors about the film said the first cut was four hours long and that it could be split into two films. The jury is still out on that. Michael ends in 1988 with a performance of “Bad,” but his career went on long after. If Michael has no sequel coming, longtime fans will delight in seeing Jackson’s legacy continue through his nephew. Others will simply view it as another entry in the genre of biopics that doesn’t want to handle the reality of the person they’re shining the spotlight on.
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