A tense synth note rings out above the chilling buzz of restless concert-goers. Michael Jackson’s commanding, familiar vocals penetrate the silence, sending fans into a frenzy. The drums and bass of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” kick in as the Universal Pictures globe fades away and the movie begins.
The Jackson biopic “Michael” was released on April 24, telling the story of the King of Pop and his rise to fame. Its inclusion of 13 songs and many concert clips makes it an enjoyable movie for those who appreciate Jackson’s music and natural talent and are curious about the development of his celebrated career. While the story explored Jackson’s life beyond his art, critics condemn the film for omitting relevant controversies and oversimplifying aspects of his thoughts and feelings, behaviors and hardships.
The first part of the film focuses on his early life with Jackson 5, the family band managed by their father, Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo). The film gives the audience a look into the icon’s humble beginnings, living in a small house in Gary, Indiana, where Joseph strictly runs them through grueling, daily rehearsals. Juliano Krue Valdi plays young Michael, embodying the charming young star. The film portrays him as an imaginative, charismatic and sensitive boy with a deep understanding and mastery of music. He feels different from other kids, befriending animals rather than people, and this uniqueness only grows as he rises to stardom.
The newfound fame brings the family to Los Angeles, where the band signs with Motown Records. In the studio, Michael stuns producers with his vocal range, tone, perfect pitch and natural performance ability possessed at a young age.
Now a young adult, Michael’s (Jafaar Jackson) star quality begins to catch the eye of various producers who urge him to pursue a solo album. His fear of his father initially holds him back as his dad, propelled by greed, overworks his sons and wants the group to stay together while touring frequently. The film frequently delves into Joseph’s psychological and physical abuse on his kids and how it affects Michael’s personal life and career.
The rest of the movie follows Michael as he becomes a breakout star with chart-topping albums, impactful music videos, signature dance moves and meaningful songs. “Michael” paints him as a unique, good-natured man battling a parasitic relationship with his father, health concerns and self-image issues. It is a success story, as he finally stands up to his father and becomes confident in his star persona.
It did not go unnoticed that the film avoids his later scandals and allegations. The movie currently has a 39% rotten tomatoes score, with the critics’ consensus praising Jafaar Jackson’s performance but saying the “safe” and “sanitized” biopic “mostly plays like a ‘greatest hits’ album that could’ve benefited from. . . actual insight into the icon.”
While “Michael” did portray the star solely as a good and pure man, it is incorrect to say the film lacked depth surrounding Michael’s experience and emotions. The scenes where Michael’s father would speak and the camera would subtly focus on a quiet, timid Michael held great meaning and evoked sympathy for the soft-spoken star. His issues with Vitiligo, his skin disease, and his abrupt nose job surgery provoked concern. The heartfelt conversations between Michael and his mother, his pets and his bodyguard demonstrated his shyness, individuality and sensitivity — qualities that were masked or overlooked in the obsession around the star.
Emotional moments such as these felt real, yet incohesive, as the movie often jumped from milestone to milestone without spending adequate time developing each hardship. The gradual references to each new problem created a seemingly inevitable fallout that never came. Instead, the movie depicted more scenes of his charismatic artistry and touching performances, namely “Human Nature” and “Bad.” These songs were stirring and chill-inducing, yet audiences were left with unanswered questions.
The uncanny interpretation of Michael’s voice and dance moves was a standout factor of the film. Witnessing Jackson’s musical prowess and the grip he had over the nation was inspiring and entertaining, but the issues, like with many biopics, were the filtered perspective of the man and the movie’s failure to create an intricate and coherent story out of his life. “Michael” is still worth a watch to learn more about his journey to success and to be amazed by his ability, but it will not serve as the raw, complex look into Jackson’s troubled life as many hoped it would.
Rating: 4/5
