Michael

Synopsis: Discover the story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career. 

Movie Review: 

"Michael" is directed by Antoine Fuqua and is a musical biopic about one of the most legendary entertainers ever, Michael Jackson. He’s known as one of the most famous singers, dancers, and artists. The film chronicles his journey to fame, starting from the 70s with the "Jackson 5" and leading to his superstardom in the 80s. It’s an entertaining watch from beginning to end. The highlight is definitely the musical scenes featuring some of Michael Jackson’s iconic tracks like "Billie Jean," "Human Nature," and "Thriller," which give it a concert film vibe. However, when it attempts to delve into his darker past, it falls short and feels a bit disappointing. Jaafar Jackson, his nephew, plays the role of his famous uncle, and he’s fantastic in this film, perfectly capturing Michael’s movements, dance moves, and voice, making it feel like he’s truly embodying his uncle throughout the runtime. He also shines in the singing department. Colman Domingo portrays Joe Jackson, his father, and he’s incredible, stealing the show as the abusive, despicable villain of the story. He’s so unlikable that you can’t help but hate his character. Nia Long also stands out as Katherine Jackson, his mother, delivering some emotional and memorable scenes with her son. Even though Joe Jackson is portrayed as a truly evil man, he comes off as a one-dimensional bad guy with no real explanation for his behavior. Despite Jaafar’s amazing performance, he’s depicted as flawless and overly nice, which makes him less relatable, and some of the damaging reports about Michael make it feel a bit like a fantasy at times. The supporting cast, including Miles Teller, Kendrick Sampson, Larenz Tate, Mike Myers, and Laura Harrier, who all play notable music producers, deliver solid performances, but they mostly just reiterate how talented Michael is, which makes it feel a bit dull and repetitive.  My main problem was that most of the time it seemed really surface-level and safe, skipping over his dark history with his abusive dad. His envious siblings were pushed to the background, and the way Michael became so famous felt way too fast for me. Even with some significant storytelling issues, it was still an enjoyable film that had a lot of style, with fantastic musical scenes that made it feel like you were at a concert. If you're a huge Michael Jackson fan, you'll definitely enjoy this movie. I'm giving "Michael" a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Director: Antoine Fuqua 

Cast: Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Juliano Krue Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Miles Teller, Kendrick Sampson, Joseph David-Jones, Jamel Henderson, Rhyan Hill, 

Trey Horton, Jessica Sula, Larenz Tate, Laura Harrier with Deon Cole and Mike Myers 

Runtime: 127 Minutes