Review: Michael – Shamon!

Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Starring Jaafar Jackson, Miles Teller, Juliano Krue Valdi, Colman Domingo

6/10

We’re in the age of the musician biopics. We’ve done Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, and Elton John, but there’s no bigger star to make one about than Michael Jackson, the King of Pop (which probably would’ve been a better title). Michael only covers the first half of his life, covering his rise to fame as a young boy and into superstardom as the biggest-selling singer ever, to his paving the way for black musicians on MTV, his almost life-threatening injury while shooting a Pepsi commercial, and concluding with his tour in support of Bad in 1988—but the film certainly finishes way too prematurely, right before his life really became full of controversy and conflict.

The film still covers a fair amount of track initially, starting off with ten-year-old Michael (Juliano Krue Valdi) and his four brothers relentlessly performing and rehearsing at the brunt of their domineering and ambitious father/manager Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo). Through the use of several montages, we see The Jackson Five become a household name across America as they top the charts and perform to sold-out arenas. But in 1978, adult Michael (Jaafar Jackson) is preparing his split from the group to embark on a solo career (and solo life).

The stunt casting of Michael Jackson’s nephew in this highly coveted role is a rare example of nepotism gone right. He’s absolutely believable as the soft-spoken but monstrously determined star, and although it sounds like most of the singing is backed up by original recordings of MJ himself, Jaafar can really bust the moves on the stage—which is just as well, as the film’s last 20 minutes is just back-to-back recreated concert footage.

But isn’t this what the fans want? To relive, or experience for the first time, the MJ concert in its heyday? It’s really up to the viewer whether they want that or a more substantial insight into this performing artist. Although Jaafar makes an earnest attempt to get under the skin of the superstar, this script completely lets him down.

The first half of the film does show promise because of how much is set up, which makes the second half all the more disappointing when there’s no payoff. So many troubling aspects of his life are only glimpsed at in their initial stages: his cosmetic surgery, skin bleaching, painkiller addiction, and his infatuation with remaining a child don’t have any follow-through at all. Two of the main aspects of Michael’s life that are explored are the controlling abuse from his father and his Peter Pan-inspired wish to remain a child, but neglecting to show Michael as a father himself makes these two key characterisations incomplete.

There is apparently a sequel on its way (or rather, second half) that will actually complete all this characterisation, which anyone can imagine would be way less hagiographic than this one. There appear to be rumours as to why the allegations aren’t even mentioned in the film at all (for legal reasons in favour of the accusers), but it’s just one of many reasons why this fairly enjoyable and reasonably insightful biopic just feels so unfinished.

DAVID MORGAN-BROWN