Hee hee, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is back in the spotlight and enthralling billions of fans, old and new, with the biopic Michael:
What’s It About:
Starring Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the King himself, in the titular role, this movie follows Michael’s rise to fame from being an abused 10-year-old kid in Gary, Indiana, to a 26-year-old global superstar, ending the cycle of paternal abuse at the infamous Victory Tour in 1984.
If, like me, you have devoured all MJ media, including books, Lifetime movies, tribute concerts and theatrical shows from Cape Town to Las Vegas, read his only biography, Moonwalk, and watched countless YouTube documentaries, you are more than familiar with his HIStory 😉
What makes this biopic different is that it is a joint production between Prince Jackson, Michael’s eldest son, his brothers Jackie, Jermaine (father of star Jaafar), Marlon and the late Tito (aka the original Jackson 5), his estate executors John Branca and John McClain and Oscar-winning producer Graham King (best known for Bohemian Rhapsody , the Queen biopic).
The film is directed by one of Hollywood’s most respected filmmakers Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer film series etc.)
A star-studded cast with Colman Domingo as abusive Jackson patriarch Joe; Nia Long as mother Katherine, Miles Teller as Branca, Mike Meyers as CBS president Walter Yetnikoff, along with a host of talented support actors, round out the rest of the film. The impossibly adorable Juliano Valdi makes his film debut as young Michael.
The Way Michael the Movie Made Me Feel:
Because I hate people, I enjoy sneaking into an 11h30am screening at The Labia Theatre, where I can have the entire cinema to myself and sing and dance to my heart’s content without having to yell at some schmuck to stop playing on their phone or answer their calls.
Last Thursday, I happily gave up the cinema policing because rocking out to all of MJ’s hit singles with a small crowd of pensioners and one very sweet student who couldn’t stop gushing about how glad she is for coming to see it on her own when her friends think Michael is lame (shame on you, Gen Z!), was an incredible experience!
Does Jaafar fully look like Uncle Michael throughout the film? No, but there are certain moments where I audibly gasped and had goosebumps because it felt like Michael’s spirit was right there, possessing this kid. Like this one:
There has been a lot of discourse online about whether or not Michael was autistic or somewhere on the spectrum, and, for someone who has not acted on this mega platform before, Jaafar nails the mannerisms, stims and awkwardness. Those of us with neurospicy brains clocked Michael’s need for low light, his magnetism toward animals, his inability to maintain eye contact and the designing of his own clothes because certain materials overstimulate him and recognised him as one of our own.
Now, we need to talk about how watered down Joseph’s abusive behaviour is in this film. I get that the producers had to keep the violence down for the film’s rating, but since the remaining members of the Jackson 5 were so heavily involved with the production of this film, I am going to call them out for still being afraid of their Daddy years after his death.
Domingo is bloody terrifying in his accurate portrayal, where his capacity for violence is always just beneath the surface of any interaction with the boys, especially Michael, and his barely-concealed disrespect for any man who dares to challenge him on his abusive behaviour, like the scene with Berry Gordy (Larenz Tate) at the recording studio. Those of us who grew up in abusive homes know that monstrous look and what no doubt awaited Michael when Joe got him at home.
I’m not asking for abuse porn, but until we can honestly look at and SEE with our own eyes the atrocities done to children by their parents, we are failing as a society.
The costumes were mostly Michael’s original ones, now owned by Lady Gaga and loaned to the production, so obviously, they are stunning. Michael had an eye for these things as he did his music videos. Some of my favourite scenes are the recreation of the Thriller video and the infamous birth of the moonwalk. Jaafar’s dedication to perfecting his uncle’s signature moves deserves ALL of the applause.
Paris Jackson, Michael’s daughter, was not involved in the movie’s production and has been vocal about how it plays to a specific angle for nostalgic audiences. I agree, and I am not discounting her view. I will say that in a world where we are waking up to news of bombings, political corruption, the staggering abuse of the vulnerable and coverups daily, it’s nice to have this reminder that Michael Jackson was a mega force of good for nearly four decades, trying to make it better in any way he could.
Michael, The Way You Make Me Feel is …happy, hopeful and ready to dance again!
Moonwalk to see this billion-dollar making movie TODAY:
You may not be able to ever faint at a Michael Jackson concert ever again, but experiencing his hits like Thriller, Bad, Beat It, Human Nature and more in a darkened room with other fans is the next best thing.
As of this morning, Michael has grossed $703 million worldwide. Help to Heal The World a little by watching it at your nearest Cineplex TODAY.
