Michael

I really enjoy a good biopic. When they are handled properly, they can take someone you might only have a passing interest in and completely immerse you in their story. Straight Outta Compton is actually in my top ten movies of all time, and I wouldn’t even consider myself the biggest N.W.A fan. For me, it is simply an incredible piece of filmmaking. The performances, direction, music and storytelling come together to make something far greater than my personal interest in the people involved. That is what the best biopics can do. You don’t necessarily have to be a fan going in. If the story is compelling enough and the filmmaking does it justice, you can walk away completely invested. Unfortunately, that is also where Michael becomes a slightly frustrating experience because, while I think this is a really good movie, I’m not convinced it is a particularly good biopic.

In many ways, this feels like a Michael Jackson biopic made specifically for Michael Jackson fans. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially considering just how enormous and passionate his fanbase remains, but it does mean the movie sometimes feels more interested in celebrating the icon than digging beneath the surface of the person. If you already love Michael Jackson and his music, there is an enormous amount here for you to enjoy. If you are coming into Michael hoping for a comprehensive examination of his life, however, you might come away feeling like there are some pretty significant gaps.

The movie essentially focuses on two major elements of Michael’s younger life: the treatment he received from his father, Joe Jackson, and Michael eventually breaking away from the Jackson family machine to pursue his solo career. Both are incredibly important parts of his story, and the movie handles them well, but there is so much surrounding those events that feels strangely absent. There is very little in terms of romance, surprisingly few meaningful personal interactions between Michael and his brothers away from performing, and I kept wondering where Janet was. Watching Michael eventually realise his dream of becoming a solo artist is incredibly uplifting, but I would have liked the movie to slow down occasionally and show us more of Michael the person rather than Michael the performer.

What the film does explore incredibly well is Michael’s relationship with his father, and for me that is the emotional hook of the entire movie. Some of the most difficult scenes to watch are simply seeing the pressure being placed on a child who was expected to perform and behave like an adult long before he should have needed to. Watching that upbringing unfold is genuinely upsetting, particularly because the movie repeatedly reminds us that while Michael possessed this extraordinary talent, underneath all of it was still a young boy missing out on experiences most children take for granted.

The movie also shines a light on the fact that Michael never really experienced a normal childhood. It provides some interesting context for the playful, almost childlike personality we would later see from him as an adult and his apparent desire to experience some of the things he missed growing up. I’m talking purely about the personality presented to the public here, but it adds another tragic layer to his upbringing. Michael Jackson became one of the biggest stars on the planet, but achieving that dream came at the cost of a childhood he could never get back.

But when Michael turns its attention towards the music, it is absolutely phenomenal. If you are a Michael Jackson fan, there are sequences here that will have you smiling from ear to ear. Every concert performance, recording studio sequence and recreation of an iconic moment is treated with an incredible amount of care. There’s also something surreal about hearing those opening notes and knowing exactly what is coming. The movie almost asks you to forget you’re watching a biopic for a few minutes and just enjoy the show, and I absolutely did. These sequences are pure Michael Jackson, and they are easily some of the biggest highlights of the entire movie.

The recreations of Beat It and Thriller in particular are unbelievable. There were moments where it genuinely felt like I wasn’t watching a recreation at all, but had somehow been given access to behind the scenes footage from the making of the original music videos. The costumes, choreography, sets, lighting and movement are astonishingly accurate. Whatever criticisms I have about the storytelling, the musical sequences are where this movie absolutely delivers.

At the centre of all of that is Jaafar Jackson, who is incredible as his uncle. The biggest compliment I can possibly give his performance is that there were moments where I honestly forgot I was watching somebody playing Michael Jackson. I felt like I was watching Michael himself. Jaafar doesn’t simply imitate the obvious characteristics or copy the dance moves. He embodies him. The mannerisms, movements, voice and stage presence all come together to create a performance that could easily have fallen into impersonation but never feels that way. Playing one of the most recognisable entertainers who has ever lived comes with an unbelievable amount of pressure, and Jaafar somehow makes it look effortless.

I would also strongly recommend watching the bonus features on the Blu ray. Jaafar’s journey towards landing the role and the amount of work he put in to prove himself makes his performance even more impressive. There were doubts over whether casting Michael Jackson’s nephew was the right decision, but Jaafar quickly proves this wasn’t simply about sharing the Jackson name. By the end of the movie, it is difficult to imagine anybody else in the role. He proved he was the only choice.

The supporting cast also deserves plenty of praise. Juliano Krue Valdi does a brilliant job portraying Michael as a child and establishing the emotional foundations that Jaafar later builds upon. Colman Domingo is equally effective as Joe Jackson and brings an intimidating presence to the movie without making him feel like a one dimensional villain. Larenz Tate and Miles Teller are also excellent, while Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones) is another important presence within Michael’s story. There really isn’t a weak performance amongst the main cast.

And that brings me back to my biggest issue. Let me be clear, I enjoyed Michael and I absolutely recommend watching it, particularly if you are a fan of his music. But it constantly feels as though there is another version of this movie somewhere containing parts of Michael’s life that we aren’t seeing. Relationships are barely explored and certain periods move by incredibly quickly. At the same time, I understand the impossible position the filmmakers were in. Michael Jackson’s life cannot realistically be squeezed into a conventional movie without making sacrifices. So the filmmakers have concentrated heavily on what they clearly consider the defining element of his younger years: his relationship with his father and the impact that upbringing had on him.

Initially, I also jumped to conclusions regarding another huge omission. As the movie continued, I started wondering how they were possibly going to approach the controversies that surrounded Michael later in his life. Then the movie ended and those words appeared on screen:

“His story continues.”

Wait, what?

After doing some reading afterwards, things started making considerably more sense. My understanding is that the movie originally had a different third act that moved into the 1993 allegations and the police raid on Neverland Ranch. However, a clause connected to the settlement involving Jordan Chandler meant that material could not be used as originally intended, resulting in the ending being substantially reworked. Suddenly, the direction this movie had taken made a lot more sense.

Knowing there is more of Michael’s story intended to follow also changes one of the biggest criticisms I initially had. Had this been presented as the definitive standalone Michael Jackson biopic and simply ended before any of the controversies surrounding his later life, I would have had a serious problem with that decision. You cannot tell the complete story of Michael Jackson while ignoring one of the most debated parts of his life. With director Antoine Fuqua indicating that the story will continue into those later years, however, I’m willing to reserve judgement. This isn’t the complete Michael Jackson story. It’s the first chapter.

Ultimately, Michael left me in a slightly strange position. As a movie, I had a great time with it. As a musical experience, there are moments that are genuinely spectacular. As a showcase for Jaafar Jackson, it is an enormous success. But as a biopic, I wanted more. Not necessarily more songs, performances or famous moments. I wanted more Michael. More of the person behind the performances and more of the smaller moments between the milestones everyone already knows. What is here is very good, but you can still feel the presence of what isn’t.

Maybe the continuation of his story will ultimately make Michael feel more complete when the films can be viewed together as one enormous journey. For now, though, this is an entertaining, emotional and occasionally breathtaking introduction to Michael Jackson’s life rather than the definitive portrait of the man himself. The musical sequences are outstanding, the recreation of his most iconic moments is remarkable, and Jaafar Jackson delivers a performance that needs to be seen to be believed.

I enjoyed it. I recommend it.

It’s a really good movie.

I’m just not sure it’s a really good biopic.

Not yet, anyway.

His story continues.