'Michael' Review: A Glossy, Propulsive, But Safe Biopic
A litany of music icons have had their day in the sun on the silver screen, but now it’s time for the king of pop to take center stage in ‘Michael’, the highly anticipated biopic starring Jaafar Jackson.
‘Michael’ of course tells the story of famed musician and global icon Michael Jackson, played here by his nephew Jaafar Jackson. The film chronicles his upbringing, his time as a member of the beloved Jackson 5, and his eventual transition into one of the most influential and beloved solo artists of all time. Casting Jackson’s nephew, Jaaafar Jackson to take on this daunting role was an inspired choice and thankfully it’s clear as day that no one else could’ve embodied Michael better on film.
To say Jackson is a revelation as the pop singer is an immense understatement, even feeling reductive to an extent. Making his film debut, he is simply stunning here. Not only does he nail the choreography, singing and timbre of Michael’s voice, but the mannerisms and subtle, but singular nuances of his behavior as well. It’s evident the amount of work and dedication Jackson put into making his uncle proud and there are countless scenes where his performance fades away and it feels as if the king of pop is alive and well once again before the audience’s eyes through his performance and the stellar makeup aiding it. He’a also able to imbue Michael with his sensitive, lively spirit and a level of humanity that is desperately needed. It’s a performance that is virtually impossible to dislike or take issue with.
Turning in a dynamite performance of his own is Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Michael’s father. The talented actor is an unbridled force of nature as the patriarch of the Jackson family, his scenes with. Michael crackling with tension and emotion. The film effectively explores the complicated and tumultuous nature of their relationship from when Michael was just a boy being pushed beyond exhaustion to perform and excel until he finally finds his freedom and own agency not only as a performer, but as a man as well. The two bring out stellar work from one another and it wouldn’t be remotely surprising if Domingo’s work is given proper recognition from the Academy come next year.
Then there’s the music and thankfully director Antoine Fuqua doesn’t let fans down in the slightest. The performance sequences are propulsive, infectious, and brimming with palpable energy. Fuqua captures these performances with a confident, assured hand behind the camera, letting the choreography and performances breathe with some inspired camerawork to boot to give these sequences and extra sprinkling of visual panache. Fans will be able to see recreations of many of Michael’s greatest hits and the attention to detail is incredibly impressive throughout. Whether the audience is seeing the filming of the iconic Thriller video or one of the singer’s most celebrated performances on stage, there’s plenty for fans to enjoy and relish.
However, this biopic isn’t without its disappointments. Unfortunately, this is a very safe and cautious exploration of Michael’s life, either sidestepping, glossing over, or avoiding entirely crucial and more controversial aspects of his career and story. It’s easy to see how this film took different shapes and forms during production, shades of a darker and deeper exploration scattered throughout. There are many instances in which it feels the film is far more interested in propelling toward the next music set piece instead of simmering or exploring Michael’s personal life. While it’s appreciated that the film explores the tenuous relationship between Michael and his father, it’s a shame it only dips its toes in the shallow end of the pool when it comes to exploring other facets of his life. Though it’s been heavily rumored that there will be a part two to this story, it’a a shame fans and audiences may have to wait for a more intimate look at his life.
Making matters a bit worse is that this biopic is as predictable and formulaic as it gets, hitting every well-trodden beat again and again. At this point, audiences have seen essentially every kind of music biopic there is and from a storytelling perspective, this one doesn’t too much in order to help itself stand out from among the wildly overcrowded pack. The film also moves at a breakneck pace, barreling through the various milestones of Michael’s illustrious career instead of soaking them in. As a result, the film brings with it little to no surprises narratively and feels far too conventional for its own good sometimes. With each passing year, ‘Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story’ with its biting and hilarious satire of the music biopic unfortunately becomes more and more accurate.
‘Michael’ may not be the most original biopic to hit theaters in recent memory, but it is absolutely one of the most entertaining. While it could’ve benefited from a deeper, more emotionally compelling exploration of the king of pop’s career and personal story, the performances, music and energy are all off the charts here. Fans of the icon certainly won’t leave disappointed, but those looking to learn more about the singer may be left out in the cold. However, the entertainment value and and glossy appeal make those shortcomings far less noticeable. This is the kind of biopic audiences should see big and loud so this music icon can electrify them one more time as his feet dance and float across the stage.