The international pop star Michael Jackson’s biopic has become widely popular, making over $217 million in its opening weekend, the fastest movie of the year to cross $100 million. The Lionsgate movie, titled “Michael”, has sparked countless conversations throughout the country. The movie is visually spectacular, as it focuses on the musical career of the pop star Michael Jackson, who rose to fame primarily in the 1980s. It rushes through a massive timeline, introducing Michael at the beginning of his career with the Jackson 5 in the late 1960s, and running up into the late 1980s with the release of Bad during his solo career.
Many Jackson fans find it to be an entertaining and nostalgic movie, and a fitting representation of the King of Pop. The movie displays the perfectionism and intentionality in his work, highlighting the 1982 album Thriller as a pivotal moment in Michael’s career, which ultimately causes his solo career to blast off and induce his worldwide success.
Critics also widely agree that the standout element of the film was Jaafar Jackson, the nephew of Michael Jackson and the actor who played him. His mastery of the voice, mannerisms, and dance moves of his uncle made the performance genuinely authentic and a proper tribute to the King of Pop.
However, although the movie highlights Michael Jackson’s outstanding performances as a solo artist, it fails to spotlight some of the deeper aspects of his life. Because the biopic was produced by the Jackson Estate, it plays things remarkably safe. Highlighting his early life, the movie focuses primarily on Michael’s relationship and challenges with his father, Joseph Jackson, played by Coleman Domingo. Additionally, the movie ends during the Bad world tour in 1988, approximately five years before the serious legal allegations against Michael Jackson emerged, with claims from 13 year old Jordan Chandler in August of 1993.
Despite its abrupt ending, it sets up for the creation of a second movie. When the movie ends with the words “His story continues”, it leaves viewers wondering what will be covered in the movie to come. The second Michael movie would be an anomaly among biopics, as most do not have sequels. With the announcement of Michael 2 (the official name not confirmed), fans and critics question how the directors will approach the allegations of child sexual assault against Michael Jackson and the controversy surrounding it. The main dislike of the first movie was its inability to address this subject, although there was an unusual situation with the final third of Michael where they dealt with his molestation allegations, including scenes of him about to be arrested by police and the Neverland Ranch being searched. That was scrapped, due to an accuser not being allowed to be mentioned or appear in the film at all. A second film about his later life would no doubt tell the rest of the story.
The Michael movie was a major success and paid excellent homage to the man who redefined music, the King of Pop: Michael Jackson. Apart from its controversy, it’s a cinematic masterpiece. The film paints a picture that inspires viewers and secures Michael Jackson’s legacy as the King of Pop.
