Tonight, we watched the movie Michael that depicted the life and times of Michael Jackson. As a person growing up in the 80s, I was looking forward to this movie....but I also wasn't sure how I would feel. After all, how much more was there to know about Michael Jackson.
But, boy, was I wrong. To begin with, the casting of his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, proved to be ingenious. Not only can he sing - which is huge - his resemblance to his uncle is uncanny. And, because he knows close, personal details of his uncle's mannerisms, it was clear he was the ultimate choice. He captured the essence and nuance of Michael Jackson, or at least the way he seemed to the public in the 1980s.
The movie itself included the typical information that people had heard about Jackson growing up. Yet, it also highlighted some of the lesser known facts and backstories that only the producers - his brothers and his sister Latoya - would know. And, to appeal to the fans, there were definitely specific recreations of hallmark moments on the stage, including the infamous filming of the Pepsi commercial, the "Victory Tour," and, of course, the legendary performance of "Billie Jean" and the unveiling of the moonwalk at Motown's 25th Anniversary Special. The sound design was exquisite, with two concert scenes resembling the sound effects you would hear at a concert. Wow!
For nostalgia buffs - and the new generation that wanted to get to know more about him - this movie wasn't just good. It was special. My only disappointment - though it could not be helped - was that "Janet" didn't appear as a character. That was a decision she made because she was not supportive of the move. But, knowing that she had a close relationship with her brother, it would have been interesting to see how that was developed, too.
No comments:
Post a Comment