Michael Jackson's life story has been told many times over, but the latest biopic, simply titled Michael, takes a different approach. Instead of delving into the complexities of his personal life and the controversies that surrounded him, the film focuses on the rise of the King of Pop, from his early years in the Jackson 5 to his solo breakthrough with Off the Wall and the global phenomenon that was Thriller. While the film is undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser, with packed theaters and a promising box office future, it feels more like myth-making than a truthful portrayal of Michael Jackson's life. Personally, I think the film's strength lies in its ability to capture the magic and innocence of the young Michael, played by Juliano Krue Valdi and later Jaafar Jackson. The first act, in particular, is compelling, with a strong performance from Coleman Domingo as Michael's tyrannical father, Joe. However, the film's weakness lies in its superficial treatment of Michael's life, avoiding any exploration of the controversial second half of his career. What makes this particularly fascinating is the film's decision to stick to the established Jackson family mystique, making it feel more like a feel-good entertainment piece than a hard-hitting biopic. In my opinion, the film's biggest strength is its ability to recreate the process of making and performing Michael's music, with a thrilling portrayal of his solo breakthrough and the creation of Thriller. This is where the film truly shines, and it's a thrill to watch Michael put together his iconic body of work. However, the film's ending, with the debut of Bad in 1988, feels convenient and avoids any exploration of the making of that album. This raises a deeper question: is the film's focus on the feel-good aspects of Michael's life a reflection of the public's desire for a more positive portrayal of the singer, or is it simply a reflection of the film's commercial potential? From my perspective, the film's superficial treatment of Michael's life is a missed opportunity to explore the complexities of his personal struggles and the controversies that surrounded him. The film's decision to sideline the other Jacksons, with Janet wholly absent and the family largely sidelined, also feels like a missed opportunity to provide a more nuanced portrayal of the family dynamic. What many people don't realize is that the film's focus on the feel-good aspects of Michael's life may be a reflection of the public's desire for a more positive portrayal of the singer, but it also risks simplifying and romanticizing his life. The film's superficial treatment of Michael's life may be a crowd-pleaser, but it feels like a missed opportunity to explore the complexities of his personal struggles and the controversies that surrounded him. If you take a step back and think about it, the film's focus on the feel-good aspects of Michael's life may be a reflection of the public's desire for a more positive portrayal of the singer, but it also risks simplifying and romanticizing his life. A detail that I find especially interesting is the film's decision to use CGI to bring Bubbles the chimp to life, which feels like a cheap attempt to add a touch of magic to the film. What this really suggests is that the film's focus on the feel-good aspects of Michael's life may be a reflection of the public's desire for a more positive portrayal of the singer, but it also risks simplifying and romanticizing his life. In conclusion, while Michael is undoubtedly a crowd-pleaser, it feels more like myth-making than a truthful portrayal of Michael Jackson's life. The film's superficial treatment of Michael's life and its focus on the feel-good aspects of his career risk simplifying and romanticizing his life, missing an opportunity to explore the complexities of his personal struggles and the controversies that surrounded him. Personally, I think the film's biggest strength is its ability to capture the magic and innocence of the young Michael, but its weakness lies in its superficial treatment of his life. If you're a fan of Michael Jackson's music, you may enjoy the film's portrayal of his early years and the creation of his iconic body of work, but it's important to remember that the film is a simplified and romanticized version of his life.
