Michael

Michael is probably the first biopic to have sold over $200 million in only its first week on public screen. With this rate, one would wonder why the movie got 39% of rotten tomatoes, most calling it “untruthful” and “disappointing”. It’s curious seeing the great discrepancies between what critics have to say and what the general audience does, the latter mounting up to 97% audience scores.  

More people are beginning to get interested yet again with the King of Pop, as his music is re-entering the Billboard on popular music streaming platforms. On several occasions I’ve heard it play in shops and even grocery stores since the movie’s release.  

If we compare the biopic with the 1992 The Jacksons: An American Dream series, then it can be said that the series portrayed Michael’s childhood best, focusing more on the brothers and the family. Yet, the biopic was more revealing for Michael’s teen and adulthood.   

Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s own nephew, played his uncle exceptionally for someone who never acted before. Michael’s mannerisms, voice and artistic talent could not have been better embodied.  

Further exceptional acting that we can’t omit from stating are Michael’s parents: Joe and Katherine Jackson played by Oscar nominated Colman Domingo and Nia Long respectively. Michael’s relationship with his parents is quite clear.  The tensions between his controlling and abusing father, trying to control Michael and his career throughout his life having essentially “robbed” Michael of his childhood, and his mother, helpless in the hands of her husband yet still supportive of her son. Joseph’s character, portrayed as a villain, really did emit a frightening presence even when he sat without a word. However, it can be disappointing for some audience members how Katherine does not get enough lines that really represented her role in Michael’s life. Touching on the point of limited screen featuring, Michael’s siblings could often feel like more background characters than close and influential relatives – and three of them were missing entirely from the movie: Janet, Rebbie and Randy. This is especially striking given how close Michael and Janet were. Comments of her reasons from abstaining are contradictory, but La Toya Jackson simply explains it as a kind declination. Her support for Jaafar, though, was mentioned. Among the greatest critics of the film is Paris Jackson, Michael’s daughter, criticizing how ungenuine and controlled the narrative is, focusing on a “fantasy” image of her father, which did not sit well with her values.  

The movie did initially show Michael’s alleged sexual accusations that emerged in 1993 in the last act, but those had to be scrapped entirely and reshot due to a legal settlement clause forbidding Jordan Chandler, the first accuser, to be mentioned. Thereafter, more “sanitized” versions of Michael were shot as most critics put it. Of course, it could feel like only half of his story was shown, leading to some critics calling it “unsatisfying half”. Nevertheless, the themes of abuse and family exploitation and how those shaped and often impeded with Michael’s personal artistic growth, in my opinion, were very well narrated.  

The tensions intensify with Michael’s estate, run by entertainment attorney John Branca and Michael’s chief business advisor, co-producing the movie and making his character feel crucially important in his career, compared to Quincy Jones, Michael’s mentor. Paris got in disagreements with the estate and thus John as to their using it for sales and monetary gain.  

Going back into the narrative of the biopic, some less “sanitised” scenes did include facts like the King of Pop’s lifelong vitiligo condition which had a serious impact on his self-perception. It also touched upon his frustration with his father, and how that relationship negatively impacted his lifelong health during the Jackson 5 reunion tour incident, where he got severe burns and a later dependency on drugs.  

Still, this does not override the main narrative of his artistic genius and growth. Perhaps we are looking at a promising sequel?  

Overall, the biopic was good but not perfect, and if you go into it expecting a dark and realistic background to Michael’s career and life, then expect to leave dissatisfied. However, if you go into it to experience a feel-good story of personal growth and battles, then expect to be thrilled.