Part 1- Michael Rosa
Content Warning: This article contains brief discussions of child abuse.
Editor’s Note: Minor spoilers ahead
When Jalen Campbell went to the theater to watch the “Michael” biopic, he was super excited to watch the film. After leaving the theater he left with one thing on his mind.
Director Antoine Fuqua is familiar with making amazing films, “The Equalizer” series, “Training Day,” “Bullet Train,” and now he was a new film in cinemas worldwide, “Michael” a two-hour biopic.
The film starts in Michael Jackson’s early years as a member of his family band, “The Jackson 5.” Alongside his older brothers, they become a hit and get a deal with Motown records.
Sprinkled in throughout the film was the abuse their father Joseph Jackson put on the kids growing up. Michael was punished and targeted by his father, being forced to practice even on school nights. The constant abuse and even calling Michael “big nose” had a huge impact on Michael’s career.
In an article published Biography, Colin Bertram wrote about the Jackson family and their life in Gary, Indianna.
“Michael recalled his father sitting in a chair with a belt in his hand watching his sons rehearse, ready to punish them for any mistakes,” Bertram Wrote.
Moments like these were infrequent throughout the film.
Fans’ expectations led them to believe the film was to learn about Michael’s personal life. Michael was someone who was always on camera.
Outside of that, the film left audience members asking themselves many questions. What was he doing outside of making amazing music? Who was he after becoming a global icon?
This is what fans wanted – the real, personal moments in Michael’s life. In my opinion, we did see that throughout the film, but maybe we did not get enough of those specific scenes.
There was no mention of the beef between his brothers, and the friendly competition between himself and Diana Ross. This is what the film needed, but realistically we knew it was not going to be shown in the film because of the legal disputes.
Michael loved his family and was very open about that. He had a rough time trying to make friends growing up.
One night after practicing with his brothers, Michael joined his mother at the table for a bowl of strawberry ice cream, his favorite. When young Michael was speaking with his mother, she asked why he didn’t find friends his age to hang out with.
Michael sadly responded, stating that the other kids didn’t see him as normal; they just wanted to take photos of him. Michael seemed to find it easier to make friends with animals; he did not see them as pets. The conversation between Michael and his mother demonstrated a result of low confidence in bonding with kids his age, which can be a cause in a case of child abuse.
Now imagine that for the rest of your life. Perhaps the critics did not acknowledge this part. A personal moment between Michael and his mother, a personal moment for Michael, a glimpse of loneliness and sadness for a successful musician.
As Michael and his brothers grew larger in fame, Michael was looking for a solo career. What is not shown in the film is the battle between Michael and his brother Jermaine Jackson.
Before everyone knew the King of Pop, Jermaine was considered the best Jackson. He was the original lead singer. Once the family heard Michael’s voice, the rest was history.
Jermaine left his brother’s band and decided to stay with Motown. In a biography written about Jermaine, WBSS media explained that Jermaine even found some strong success as a solo artist.
“When The Jackson Five left Motown, Jermaine left the group and stayed at Motown. Jermaine was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his 1980 album ‘Let’s Get Serious.’”
When Michael eventually went solo, his father was fine with it as long as he continued working with the ‘Jackson 5.’ Going solo allowed Michael to finally have his own freedom. Joseph wasn’t able to manage Michael’s dream of doing what he loved.
The conflict between Joseph and Michael is the biggest take of the film. Michael knew he was destined for larger things. As much as he loved his family, it was time to show the world MJ, not just Michael.
The “Off the wall” era was shown way too quick. The movie never introduced someone who was a big part of Michaels success for this album, Quincy Jones. The first scene Jones is in was with Michael in the studio recording one of the biggest hits of the 70s, “Don’t stop till you get enough.”
The visuals for this specific scene made me feel like I was watching Michael and not Jaafar Jackson. The dancing, the voice, the makeup, Jaafar’s performance in the film had fans reminiscing the great Michael Jackson.
Although the critics and fans have their own opinions, from what I’ve seen there is no doubt on the casting and the performance Jaafar Jackson put on for the film. Michael has no business being gone. His fans definitely enjoyed seeing him on the big screen. Jaafar should be getting a few nominations for this film.
Critics have also said it felt like a big concert with no story telling. With some context of the film there is storytelling, just not enough. Possibly due to legal reasons and lawsuits. Which was a big part of why the film needed to delay the release.
The original release year was 2024, but Diana Ross wanted her name to not be mentioned in the film, leading to a change in the story.
Overall, the film was beautiful. It respected and showed the greatness of a huge career. A career that lasted over multiple decades. With the opportunity of releasing a second film, the plan should be to give the film a bigger focus on Michael’s personal life rather than just his music.
And just like Jalen Campbell said there is only one Michael Jackson.
Part 2- Corey Cherenfant
The new “Michael” biopic about Michael Jackson has been one of those movies people have been talking about for years, so going into it, expectations were already high. And after watching the film, it honestly feels like the kind of movie that is going to hit differently depending on what you’re looking for.
Critics gave the film a 39% rating on Rotten Tomatoes days before the film’s public release saying there were certain points of Jackson’s life that weren’t tackled in reviews. However, this didn’t stop audiences young and old from taking their seats and tuning in for themselves.
The biggest thing carrying the movie is easily Jaafar Jackson who is Michael’s nephew. For someone stepping into a role this big, he does a solid job. It never feels like he’s just doing an impression. He truly captures Michael’s energy in a way that feels natural.
The performance scenes are where he really shines. The dancing, the stage presence, even the small mannerisms all feel authentic, and there are moments where you kind of forget you are not watching the real Michael.
Visually, the movie is super clean and well put together. The concert scenes especially stand out and they’re easily the most exciting parts of the film. You can tell a lot of effort went into recreating those iconic performances, and if you’re already a fan of Michael’s music, those scenes alone make it worth watching.
The soundtrack, obviously, is stacked with his hits and hearing them in a theater adds to the experience.
The story itself plays things safely. The film focuses a lot on his rise to fame, starting from his early days with “The Jackson 5” and building up to global superstardom with his solo career. It almost feels like a highlight reel at times, moving from one big moment to the next without always slowing down to really dig into things. Because of that, the movie is very easy to watch and entertaining, but it can feel a little surface-level.
One thing people are probably going to notice is that the film doesn’t go super deep into the more complicated or controversial parts of his life. Instead, it leans more toward celebrating his talent and legacy. Depending on how you feel about that, it can either work in the movie’s favor or make it feel like something is missing. If you were hoping for a more raw or detailed look at his personal struggles, you might walk away wanting more.
At the same time, it is clear the movie is trying to be more of a tribute than a full breakdown of his life. And in that sense, it does its job. It reminds you why Michael Jackson had such a huge impact on music and pop culture. You get a sense of how big he really was, especially during his peak, and why his influence is still felt today.
The pacing is a bit mixed. Some parts move quickly, jumping through different stages of his life, while others take their time, especially when it comes to performances. The film covers a lot but does not always dive deep into it.
Overall, “Michael” feels like a movie made for fans first. If you grew up listening to his music or already appreciate what he did for the industry, you will probably enjoy it a lot more. If you’re looking for a deep, emotional character study, it might not fully deliver on that level.
It’s not a perfect biopic, but it’s entertaining, visually strong, and powered by a convincing lead performance. It feels more like a celebration of Michael Jackson’s legacy than a full exploration of his life and depending on your expectations, that could be exactly what you want.
