Michael is Unexceptional and Cowardly
Who's bad?
1.5/5 stars
One would be hard-pressed to find a figure in pop culture more influential and groundbreaking, or as controversial as Michael Jackson. He revolutionized pop music, dominated the charts for decades, and broke down racial barriers. His personal life, however, was mired in controversy and criminal investigations. But you would know nothing about that if the new biopic Michael was your guide through his life.
Produced by the surviving members of Jackson's family (sans Janet and daughter Paris), it is the most sanitized real-life story ever told, hitting all the typical beats of the musician biopic formula. But the fact that it doesn't even hint at the unsavory truths about Jackson's life makes it the most cowardly film in years.
The film introduces us to a young Michael Jackson (Juliano Krue Valdi) as his father (Colman Domingo) forces him and his brothers to perform music as a way to escape the poverty of Gary, Indiana. As an adult, Michael (now played by Jackson's nephew, Jaafar) breaks out on his own and becomes a pop sensation, but the shadow of his father's abuse still looms over his life.
If you've seen Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, Elvis, or Walk Hard, you've already seen this film. Full of all the same story beats and melodrama, it is on autopilot the whole time. Colman Domingo gives a chilling performance as Joe, and, it should go without saying, the soundtrack is excellent.
Jaafar Jackson himself gets the mannerisms of MJ right, but he feels less like a person and more wax museum figure. I was hoping we'd be done with these cookie-cutter biopics, but, as this will surely make a billion dollars, it seems we'll be inundated with them until the end of time.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua // Written by John Logan // Starring Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Juliano Krue Valdi, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Miles Teller, Kendrick Sampson, Joseph David-Jones, Jamal Henderson, Rhyan Hill, Trey Horton, Jessica Sula, Larenz Tate, Laura Harrier, and Mike Myers // Lionsgate Films // 128 minutes // Rated PG-13
