To say the new Michael Jackson biopic, ‘Michael,’ rocked my world would be an understatement. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film follows Michael’s rise to fame, starting in 1966 with the Jackson 5, as he struggles to break away from his abusive father, Joseph Jackson (Coleman Domingo). The king of pop is played magnificently by debut actor Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Michael Jackson.
Michael’s younger self is played by Juliano Valdi, who sings with lovable charisma. Valdi and Jaafar both were just some of the outstanding castings in the star-studded ensemble. Miles Teller (John Branca), Mike Myers (Walter Yetnikoff), and Laura Harrier (Suzanne de Passe) all make memorable appearances in era-specific costumes.
The costume design as a whole is incredible. Not only are the outfits accurate to each Michael Jackson performance, they add a layer of excitement to each scene. Whether he was moving in sparkly gloves or his signature red jacket, the camera flawlessly tied all of Michael’s dance moves to the rhythm of the music. Especially with the “Thriller” music video, where Jaafar is zombi-ified and dances with the exact level of creepiness seen in the real music video.
However, the film isn’t perfect, as it seems to take some creative liberties that gloss over certain details. While it includes some of the abusive aspects of Michael’s relationship with his father, it does not dive into the true exploitation and harm between them. Michael’s insecurities are also glossed over, with his vitiligo only being mentioned once. His nose jobs via comments from his father calling him, ‘big nose,’ and Michael’s admiration for Peter Pan’s button nose.
The film ends with the words, ‘his story continues,’ leading many to speculate that a sequel may be coming in the near future. Lionsgate has made many indications that another project may be in the works, but there has been no actual confirmation of this.
Overall, the film is beautifully orchestrated, moving forward through each Jackson era with extraordinary music that adds excitement and drama to every time jump. However, critics have judged the film’s inaccuracies, claiming that it is a ‘sanitized’ version of the pop sensation’s controversial life. While Lionsgate may have chosen to present the PG-13 version of Michael’s life, the film simply does not disappoint in the entertainment department.
