Cast: Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Juliano Krue Valdi
Crew:
Cinematography: Dion Beebe
Direction: Antoine Fuqua
Producers: Graham King, John Branca, John McClain
Michael was one of the most anticipated biopics globally, aiming to bring the story of the greatest entertainer of all time to the big screen. However, despite the massive hype, the film opened to highly negative reviews worldwide as it failed to meet the expectations. Let's discuss about the film in detail.
Plot:
The film tries to chronicle the life of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson (Jaafar Jackson). From his early days of rigorous training under his strict father Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo) in the Jackson 5, to becoming a global superstar. The movie touches upon his musical milestones and attempts to show his struggles with the media and personal issues. Does the film capture the true essence of MJ? Watch the movie to know.
Analysis:
The only major saving grace of this biopic is Jaafar Jackson. As Michael’s real-life nephew, he puts in a sincere effort to embody the King of Pop. The iconic dance moves and the concert sequences are shot well and give a momentary high. Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson does a decent job, but his character arc feels very incomplete.
The biggest issue with the film is its painfully sanitized narrative. Because it is backed by the Michael Jackson estate, director Antoine Fuqua ended up making it look like a lengthy PR exercise rather than a genuine cinematic experience. It completely glosses over the complexities and controversies of his life, failing to show the actual human struggles behind the glittering glove.
The screenplay is highly superficial, jumping from one Wikipedia milestone to another without letting any emotional moment breathe. There is absolutely no depth to the supporting characters. The second half feels extremely draggy and tests your patience. Instead of an objective character study, the makers just relied purely on nostalgia, leaving the audience completely disconnected. On the whole, it is a massive disappointment.
Positives:
Jaafar Jackson's dance and sincere effort
Concert sequences
Cinematography
Negatives:
Highly sanitized and PR-like narrative
Lack of emotional depth
Superficial screenplay
Draggy second half
Bottomline:
Michael is a soulless tribute that completely wastes a legendary subject.
Rating: 2.25/5
Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.
