“Michael Jackson has fans who aren’t born yet.”
Is there any better way to describe the immortal myth of Michael Jackson? Without even listing his achievements, he is the one and only pop star who truly deserves the title “King of Pop,” both in life and in death.
The movie ‘Michael’ (directed by Antoine Fuqua) is the first feature film to cover Michael Jackson’s life. After opening in North America on April 24, it earned nearly $100 million (approx. $97 million) in its first weekend and surpassed $500 million worldwide within three weeks. Produced by Graham King’s team, who brought us ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ the film focuses heavily on music and performance, successfully targeting the hearts of fans.
While its artistic achievements may be debated, the reason to watch is clear. We’ve seen his accomplishments through various documentaries, but seeing his biography in a feature film offers a different kind of excitement. Moreover, the irresistible power of this movie lies in the chance to remember and commemorate the footsteps of a star like Michael Jackson on the big screen.
To be honest, ‘Michael’ isn’t a perfectly crafted biopic. Director Antoine Fuqua only captures the pop culture icon Michael Jackson in a fragmented way. The narrative is a condensed list of his success stories, and it fails to deeply explore his dark past growing up under a violent father or his inner pain.
The film leans heavily on the Michael Jackson brand and the gems of music and performance he left behind. It maximizes his divine performances and music, focusing on his child prodigy days with ‘The Jackson 5,’ the birth of the legendary solo album ‘Off the Wall’ (1979), the genius of ‘Thriller’ (1982) which shifted the pop paradigm, and the ‘Bad’ (1987) album tour that redefined world tours.
‘Michael’ may lack the dramatic depth to elevate emotions through its story, but as an audiovisual experience where you enjoy the music and feast your eyes on the performances, it is highly satisfying. The power of the original source material is so great that it can even embrace those who viewed the film critically.
Casting was a hot topic and a point of concern from the start. The title role is played by Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew and the son of Jermaine Jackson. A singer by trade, Jaafar Jackson is a rookie actor with zero acting experience. It’s also hard to say he looks exactly like his uncle. Being blood-related is one thing, but since he’s a rookie with a low visual resemblance, it was uncertain if he could truly embody the legendary star.
However, Jaafar Jackson proves the power of DNA, delivering a successful performance. Especially from the era after Michael Jackson’s nose surgery, the makeup significantly improves the visual resemblance, adding to the immersion. The full-scale recreation of the ‘Billie Jean’ stage is the movie’s highlight. The moonwalking scenes, paired with the exciting beat of the music, make the adrenaline explode.
‘Michael’ was a movie surrounded by noise both before and after its release. There were disagreements and conflicts among Michael Jackson’s family regarding the production, and there was significant noise concerning filming and editing. In particular, controversy erupted when it was revealed that scenes depicting the time Michael Jackson was indicted on child sexual abuse charges were filmed but then cut during editing. There were concerns that the film only highlighted the success myth without portraying the light and shadow of the star’s life from various angles.
However, this movie only covers the period from the Jackson 5 era in 1966 to the ‘Bad’ album world tour in 1988. The aforementioned controversies fall outside the movie’s timeline. Given that those parts were filmed and then removed during editing, it seems the structure of the movie was changed during post-production.
The film ends with a subtitle stating “His story continues,” hinting at a sequel. In fact, because the movie became a massive hit from its first week, a sequel has been confirmed.
‘Michael’ only depicts the first half of Michael Jackson’s life, focusing on how he established his identity and stood on his own with his own color, escaping his father’s violence and oppression. Various controversies, rumors, long legal battles, and suspicions surrounding his death are expected to be covered in the sequel.
Because of this, some are calling for a boycott, saying they won’t watch this “half-finished movie.” Of course, the quality as a feature film might not fully satisfy all fans. However, as a music movie, the auditory and visual elements are guaranteed. ‘Michael’ is a great opportunity to witness on screen the mark the King of Pop left on the stage and screen with sweat and passion, including the ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ and ‘Bad’ performances, as well as the creation of the legendary ‘Thriller’ music video.
