Movie Review: ‘Michael’

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Review by Adam Courtliff

Musical biopics have arguably become one of the most overused and unimaginative genres of the last decade. Every single one of them, aside from the brilliant Better Man, seems to follow the same formulaic outline almost to the letter, with each one becoming more tedious to sit through. And while the latest musical biopic Michael does not do anything different in that regard, unlike many others, powered by one of the best cinematic soundtracks of all time, it manages to be rip roaringly fun entertainment that is bound to go down a storm with fans.

Michael takes fans on a whistle stop tour of his life, starting in 1966 in Gary, Indiana where a young Michael Jackson (Juliano Valdi), along with his four brothers, are literally and figuratively being whipped into shape by their dad Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo) to create what is now known as the Jackson 5. It is all too fleeting, showing the group’s subsequent rise to stardom as the greatest hits play alongside some delightfully crafted looks at their more infamous live performances. All the while, it shows that even as a child Michael Jackson was always different from everyone else, creating some emotionally pertinent moments along the way.

The film wastes no time hurtling forward into Michael’s older self (Jaafar Jackson) as his global superstar status leads him down the path of a solo career, much to the disdain of his abusive father. It then captures some of the most iconic moments of Michael’s career. From his first solo studio recording of Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, which is bound to send shivers down the audience’s spine, to the legendary recording of Thriller and everything in between, it builds towards his live performance of Bad before teasing a potential second film.

While telling the story of the highs and lows of Michael’s life, his misunderstood childlike nature is at the forefront of everything. From the carefully designed costumes inspired by his favourite characters like Mickey Mouse, to the reading of children’s books with a particular fascination for Neverland Ranch, the film gives audiences a look at what it was like to be the mild mannered people pleaser that Michael Jackson was. It also does not shy away from highlighting the endless physical and emotional abuse he endured from his father, perhaps exacerbating these quirks even further.

The film also gives a rather emotional look at Michael Jackson’s relationships with other people, or rather the lack of them, instead choosing to confide in his many animals or spend time in hospitals conversing with those less fortunate. It also provides glimpses into why his unhealthy obsession with plastic surgery began in the first place and how he strived for unobtainable perfection with his appearance due to circumstances beyond his control, something that is bound to bring a tear to most people’s eyes.

Of course, this can feel like the usual going through the motions associated with musical biopics of this nature, cherry picking certain periods in the subject’s life and adapting them for the big screen. And in that regard, Michael is very formulaic. Fans will likely not learn anything new, as it already feels like every microscopic detail of his life has been spoken about. But despite that, a solid script from John Logan and decent direction from Antoine Fuqua ensure that it still feels at least a little fresh and undoubtedly entertaining, as the film impressively captures individual moments that quite literally changed the course of history.

Tonally, Michael does feel like fan service for a large portion of its runtime. It focuses on how his music was powerful enough to unite the world, even getting the Crips and Bloods into the same room, something once thought unimaginable, because Michael managed to do it. It also recreates arena and stadium shows that are enough to take the audience’s breath away. Rather than delve into any of the deeper troubles he faced outside of his father, the film chooses celebration. That may come in the teased sequel, but for now at least, this chapter of the story is much more of a celebration.

Rightfully, Jaafar Jackson in his debut performance will receive all the plaudits. He is completely spellbinding as he transforms into his late uncle, performing some of his most iconic dance moves and routines as if he were Michael himself. It would be incredibly easy to run out of superlatives for just how amazing his performance really is, and he may well have cemented himself as the early front runner when awards season rolls back around.

The same can be said for Colman Domingo, whose commanding performance captures Joseph’s manipulative nature spectacularly well. Every time Domingo is on screen he owns the scene, sending a shudder up the audience’s spine and creating a real sense of fear whenever he appears. Just like Jaafar Jackson, he may have put himself at the forefront of awards contention for his supporting role.

In a much more limited, but equally impactful role, Juliano Valdi as a young Michael is terrific. He captures Michael’s misunderstood nature as a child while also nailing the performative side of him during his Jackson 5 era. The rest of the supporting cast are all solid despite their more limited screen time, with Miles Teller as John Branca, Nia Long as Michael’s mother Katherine Jackson, and KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Michael’s bodyguard Billy all making the most of their time.
Most of the technical aspects of Michael are also handled extremely well. The editing, especially from John Ottman and Harry Yoon, is brilliant as the film seamlessly transitions through the two decades on display. The cinematography from Dion Beebe is also worth a mention, particularly in the final act where audiences are immersed in the stadium shows to the point where it feels like you are actually there.

So while Michael undoubtedly does not do anything the genre has not seen before, and has so far shied away from the more controversial aspects of Michael Jackson’s life, powered by that impeccable soundtrack it is almost guaranteed to be a certified crowd pleaser. It provides some emotionally charged glimpses into the life and legacy of one of, if not the greatest musicians and performers of all time. For lovers of cinema and his music alike, this is an absolute must watch that is bound to take the world by storm for all the right reasons.