Because Michael has been so polarizing (for stupid reasons), I’d like to preface this review by saying that while I’ve never been a particular fan of Michael Jackson, I don’t dislike him either. There were some songs I enjoyed, but even though he once ruled the world and remains a cultural icon to this day, he simply wasn’t a vital part of my life or musical interests.
However, some of the best music biographies I’ve ever seen were about artists I don’t give a damn about. As much as I detest country music, 1980’s Coal Miner’s Daughter is excellent because it tells an engaging - and ultimately revealing - story about its subject. Even in movies about real life figures, characters and story matter, perhaps even more so than historical accuracy.
So before any of Jackson’s legions brand me a hater, keep in mind that I still think his status as a legend and musical genius - to say nothing of the man’s tumultuous personal and professional life - would make a phenomenally compelling film. But Michael ain’t it.
Not-so-much a biography as a Wikipedia article set to music, Michael is chock full of his songs (as a solo artist and part of The Jackson 5) and perfunctory depictions of career milestones. But as a meaningful exploration of the man’s life and what makes him tick, it makes Bohemian Rhapsody look like Straight Outta Compton (the latter being another example of a bio done right). It’s homogenized fluff that worships its subject as much as his fans do, refusing to acknowledge any flaws or controversy, and conveniently ends before the darker aspects of Jackson’s personal life began to emerge.
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| Michael discovers Slayer. |
At the same time, I can understand why so many people absolutely love Michael. It plays like a living greatest hits album, intended for fans who find nostalgic comfort in music and imagery. As a gushing love letter to the man and his fans, I suppose it works brilliantly. But as a film in general, Michael is narratively jumpy, maddenly benign, and devoid of any real character complexity (despite earnest performances by Jaafar Jackson as Michael and Colman Domingo as his abusive father, Joe). To be honest, I kind of expected better from director Antoine Fuqua, whose work I generally admire. Though I could be wrong, I suspect he was more of a director-for-hire here, bending to the will of the Jackson family themselves (hence Michael’s squeaky clean life).
But despite my personal assessment of the movie itself, the music sequences - and there’s a ton of ‘em - are well done and Michael’s songs are used quite effectively, both as set-pieces and when underscoring certain scenes. For the legions who loved Michael to the tune of a billion dollars (making it Lionsgate’s biggest movie ever), this disc comes highly recommended. Both the 4K and Blu-ray transfers feature excellent picture and sound quality.
EXTRA KIBBLES
4K, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL COPIES
DON’T STOP ‘TILL YOU GET ENOUGH: THE MAKING OF MICHAEL is a terrific hour-long documentary with plenty of interviews and on set footage. Even if one isn’t necessarily a fan of the movie, the doc is interesting.
FEATURETTES - Home is Where the Heart Is: Behind the Gates of Hayvenhurst looks at the Jackson mansion; In the Mirror: Becoming Michael & Joe Time Lapses focuses on the make-up work; Becoming Michael features Jaafar Jackson discussing the role, while others sing his praises; First Look and Before the Big Screen are short EPKs.
3 TRAILERS
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