“Michael” follows Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, going from the lead of the Jackson Five to the artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.
A “Greatest Hits” Approach
Your enjoyment of “Michael” likely depends on what you know (or what you think you know, at least). Accusations? There are none here. Musical hits? There are plenty. This isn’t a movie that dives into the controversies of its title character — mostly because that’s not its focus, ending five years prior to the first widely reported sexual abuse allegations. And if you wanted director Antoine Fuqua to further explore the inner complexities of Jackson’s later life, a lot more than the 127-minute runtime would’ve been required. Could more story follow in the future? Maybe. But this is about Michael Jackson’s rise to becoming the “King of Pop.” And in that aspect, it largely delivers.
For fans, that is. Similar musical biopics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Rocketman” delivered energy and realism that introduced Queen and Elton John to a new generation. “Michael” oftentimes plays out more like a string of music videos rather than fulfilling an actual narrative. Because of this, it doesn’t have the uniqueness needed to actually make it memorable.
Nostalgia That Doesn’t Stick
From a visual standpoint, the film is a mixture of spectacle and plain. Director of photography Dion Beebe injects nostalgia into iconic moments. There are revivals of music videos and performances that attempt to “recreate the magic.” But the concerts themselves? There’s a sense of fakeness to them. Utilizing CGI crowds, “Michael” oftentimes cuts back and forth between the singer and the audience. The constant cutting diminishes the immersiveness that is required for these electric sequences.
John Logan’s script is unable to maintain attention. Themes of control, isolation, body image and the pursuit of perfection are explored — but only long enough to add some depth before the next song kicks in. This leaves the film devoid of tension at every turn, and, at the same time, surface-level.
“Michael” is more of a “best-of” experience than anything else, even though it so desperately attempts to be an intimate character study.
A Divisive Experience
This is likely where the divide between critical and audience perception lies. As a movie, “Michael” is a mess. The imagery is never able to match the superstar’s flair. Key figures in his life are missing. Time moves at a wildly uneven pace. The list goes on. But… fans will undoubtedly still enjoy singing along to his hits.
“Fan service” is a term often regulated to comic book movies in the Marvel or DC Universes. However, it also applies to “Michael.”
“Michael” does have one big positive: Jaafar Jackson (Michael). He embodies his uncle in virtually every way. Not only is the resemblance close to identical, but Jaafar Jackson also matches his voice and dance moves. For his acting debut, this is impressive. While the script limits him to one-dimensional status more often than not, he still manages to inject emotion in subtle ways.
Juliano Valdi (Young Michael) also impresses. Featured over the first third of the runtime, Valdi is required to generate buy-in from the audience into Michael’s childhood. Contrasting against Colman Domingo’s (Joseph Jackson) performance, he sells the sensitivity and sweetness of Michael. Domingo, on the other hand, effectively plays the “antagonist.” His performance never varies, but he still delivers a sense of both rage and desperation. Because of Domingo’s delivery, it’s much easier for the audience to root against Joseph from beginning to end.
Much of the dialogue surrounding “Michael” hasn’t even been about the movie itself. This is unfortunate — but such is art. After seeing the film, it actually becomes even more confusing. Some have hailed it as the best musical biopic of all time. Others have called it one of the worst movies they have ever seen.
The reality is that it pretty much lies right in between. “Michael” is neither “good” nor “bad.” Fuqua knows his target audience surprisingly well, and for this reason, he plays it safe. It has all the pieces that Michael Jackson enthusiasts will love, but not much else.
Therefore, it sits among a plethora of other average movies that aren’t memorable. However, this one will likely be remembered because of its name alone.
“Michael” is a “greatest hits” compilation that fans of the artist will adore, but it’s more of a music video montage than an actual movie.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
