REVIEW
Katy Cunningham
I recently got the opportunity to watch the Michael Jackson biopic – simply called Michael – in the Omniplex Cinema in Roscommon Town.
Once the film had ended, I immediately wanted to rewatch it. Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known.
The film sees Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson and an ensemble cast portraying the key figures in the pop star’s life. The film covers the incredible songs that Michael (and his brothers) released over the years, but also tells us the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his amazing talent and emergence as the lead of The Jackson 5 to the man who went on to become the biggest entertainer in the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, not least because I have always been a Michael Jackson fan. I had very high expectations going into the cinema – and let’s just say this film went above and beyond those hopes. I truly felt like I was experiencing a Michael Jackson concert!
Leaving the cinema, I was reminded of the extraordinary talent that was Michael Jackson. He was a man of many talents. From his dancing to his singing and his world famous music videos, he did it all. But we all know that Michael’s life wasn’t perfect. The film delves into his complicated relationship with his father, highlighting the pressure that was put on him from a very early age. Seeing the abuse that Michael had to deal with from his father made me realise that fame often comes with a heavy price.
As the film progresses, we get to see the journey The Jackson 5 went on, from performing in their living room to going on world tours. The film truly captures the highs and lows of performing at such a young age. Michael was not just a key member of the band, he was its lead singer – and he started in the group at the remarkably young age of six!
As an audience, we see Michael’s struggles in the band. As he gets older he wants to become a solo artist but is held back by the fear of what his father will say. We see the production of his world famous song ‘Don’t Stop ‘til You Get Enough’. While this song was a major hit, Michael was still under the control of his father and The Jackson 5.
Of course music is a key part of this film, but we also get an insight into Michael Jackson’s personal life. We see that he never had any close friends. He had millions of fans that adored him and his music, but nobody he was truly close with, except for his animals. We get to see Michael’s love for animals as he adopted many over the years, most well known of these being his monkey, Bubbles.
It’s clear that Michael was very lonely. Out of all of his family members, he was only close to his mother. The superstar’s relationship with his mother was very special. She acted as a safe haven from the intense pressure of the music industry and the strict, demanding approach of his father. Eventually, Michael got the courage to fire his father as his manager and, freed of that controlling influence, he went on to create worldwide hits like ‘Beat It’ and ‘Billie Jean’, which he famously performed at the 1983 Grammy awards.
Jaafar Jackson truly embodies Michael Jackson. Every little detail was perfected. The entire production of this film was incredible but a scene that particularly stood out was the making of the music video for ‘Thriller’. This song has always been one of my favourites – as I’m sure it is for many people – and getting to see it on the big screen showed us that Michael’s musical achievements broke American racial barriers, leading to him becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
I could not recommend this film enough, especially if you love Michael Jackson’s music. Even if you aren’t a massive fan of his music, after watching this I think you will be.
*Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, does not address sexual abuse allegations that were made against the iconic performer both during his career and after his death in 2009.
*Katy Cunningham is a 5th year student in Mercy College Roscommon who is on work experience with the Roscommon People.
