'Michael' plays like a popcorn musical
Cambridge Day • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The biopic "Michael" chronicles the early life and rise of Michael Jackson, focusing on his time with the Jackson 5 and his emergence as a solo artist, with Jaafar Jackson portraying the King of Pop in adulthood.
- Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film showcases iconic performances like "Thriller" and the Motown 25 moonwalk, delivering a visually impressive and musically engaging experience, especially in IMAX.
- The movie presents a sanitized version of Jackson, avoiding controversial aspects such as sexual abuse allegations, leading to criticism that it serves more as image rehabilitation than a balanced biography.
- The film ends in 1988 with a tease of continuation, but given the estate's control and reluctance to address darker issues, a comprehensive follow-up seems unlikely.
- Critics suggest that a truly definitive Michael Jackson biopic would need to be made independently of his estate to fully explore the complexities of his life, as "Michael" prioritizes crowd-pleasing spectacle over nuanced storytelling.
