Unlike most celebrity biopics, this one is much more personal than others; it takes viewers into Michael Jackson’s life (not just the story about how he achieved fame), and shows how he experienced both tremendous success but also constant pressure from others, many people loved him, but ultimately Michael lived a lonely life that never left him. The movie sets up a magical and tragic atmosphere right from the start, reminding viewers of the man behind the bright, shiny lights of the stage and the performances that made him famous, and who felt as though he carried an impossible burden of expectations.
The best aspect of the film is definitely Jaafar Jackson’s performance as Michael; he does not just mimic Michael’s voice or dance style, but rather captures the essence of his beloved figure – energy, gestures, shyness, emotional openness in ways that are incredibly believable and natural. In many parts of this movie, you see not just an actor performing Michael Jackson, but the real thing during more emotional scenes and also during his amazing live performances. Jaafar makes you feel like he is Michael Jackson and you create an important bond between you, the audience member, and the movie.
Every concert scene in the show is aesthetically stunning and provides a rush of exhilaration as they effectively recreate a few historical concert performances from the past such as “Billie Jean”, “Thriller” and “Man In The Mirror”. For each performance, the choreography, lighting, costume design and camera angles all work together to represent the feeling of actually being at a huge concert instead of just seeing it on screen. The soundtrack of the movie is one of the other greatest parts of the movie and will continue to demonstrate how MJ’s music influenced the world of modern pop for many years to come and helped define the careers of other artists throughout the course of time.
The emotional impact created by the movie is due in part to the fact that it not only depicts Michael as an entertainer, but also as a human being. Even though some scenes are very sad, they still illustrate the effect that fame has had on his life. The film portrays Michael’s desire for privacy, faith in those around him, and the need to feel “normal” in his continuous public exposure. These moments allow the film to have emotional depth beyond just music and spectacle.
In addition, the movie generally feels tentative in its presentation of some of the most contentious aspects of Michael Jackson’s life. That is to say, while the film gives Jackson the benefit of the doubt and is full of admiration toward him (this may make some audiences perceive that the film is missing out on providing a critical and/or uncomfortable perspective). Audiences expecting a fully balanced examination of all of Jackson’s controversies may feel the film is lacking. Nevertheless, the film will not come off as disrespectful or manipulative — it reads very much like a tribute to Jackson based on an understanding of the emotional toll of being one of the most well-known individuals in history.
Overall, Michael is both an enjoyable musical and an emotionally charged view of one of the more complex icons of urban culture. The documentary demonstrates how brilliantly talented, emotionally tortured and, ultimately, human Michael Jackson was, in ways that are both visually cinematic and very much from the heart. While Michael is a little rough around the edges, it has staying power because it does an excellent job of illustrating not only why Michael became a global icon, but also the tremendous pressure he was under throughout his life.