Michael pays tribute to the King of Pop

By Staff Writer Varun Madhavan

Jaafar Jackson, nephew of the late singer Michael Jackson, pays tribute to the King of Pop’s legacy through the biographical musical drama Michael. Yet, the film falls flat with deliberate omissions in an effort to course correct old and new Michael Jackson controversies, erratic pacing, and character exaggerations. 

Beginning with his family band Jackson 5 and concluding with his Bad tour, Michael recaps Michael Jackson’s fame and impressive career in a grand, dramaticized biopic.  

Throughout the film, the audience is enraptured by Jaafar Jackson’s uncanny reproductions of Jackson’s career-defining hits, such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat it,” and “Smooth Criminal.” Jaafar, who has been obsessed with his uncle’s career since childhood, perfectly portrayed his uncle in mannerisms and emotions. His two-year intensive training to physically and vocally recreate his uncle’s behaviors and his blended vocals with original master tracks showcase the film’s creativity in choreography, costume design, set design, and sound production. Paired with behind-the-scenes footage of pre-concerts and clips of Michael Jackson creating his performances, the cinematography and production perfectly add a layer of novelty to the film.

However, the film’s pacing unfortunately holds the film back, disrupting its immersive feel. The film feels slow in some areas, yet too fast at the same time — especially during Jackson’s performances, which are arguably the most iconic moments of the film, undoubtedly leaving the audience wanting more.

The film not only features Michael Jackson himself, but also highlights key figures in his life, including his mother Katherine Jackson (Nia Long). Long’s acting as Jackson’s mother was extremely nuanced and built on her co-stars’ ___ to faithfully recreate the Jackson family. On the other hand, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo) felt cartoonishly evil, which seemed to diminish the significance of the familial abuse Jackson experienced by removing any depth to the ___ and replacing it instead with a basic, oversimplified arc.

While the film tried to be fully accurate, it was held back by one gaping flaw: the intentional avoidance of Jackson’s 1980s sexual abuse scandal. By omitting any mention of controversy from the film despite it taking place during the same time period, it becomes clear that the film’s purpose is to strengthen Jackson’s legacy amongst audiences. Without adding the real flaws to Michael’s character, the movie’s purpose becomes reduced to a manipulative and biased cash grab.

Michael, with great acting and a great idea, had all the parts to create a cohesive film, but crumbled in execution. Ultimately, the plot’s glaring omissions detracted from the film’s potential. The story of Michael Jackson does not properly lend itself to being a feature film when told from such a biased perspective.