“Michael” – A Review

Walking out of Michael, I didn’t feel disappointed but I did feel incomplete.

It’s not the 27% disaster Rotten Tomatoes is making it out to be but it’s also nowhere near the cultural electricity of Thriller. And that’s kind of the problem.

What Worked

The Casting

Jaafar Jackson, Juliano Krue Valdi, Nia Long, and Colman Domingo all delivered. You believed them.

Lorenz Tate as Berry Gordy and Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones were solid grounded, believable & necessary.

Only miss? Deon Cole as Don King. I like Deon Cole as a comic and actor but in Michael he felt like Deon Cole playing Don King. Again "Incomplete" 

Michael Jackson’s Impact

The film did capture the real hysteria about MJ, people crying, passing out, camping outside his home and truckloads of fan mail. No one back then or today (Sorry Beyonce and Breezy fans). 

That part hit.

Bill Bray Relationship

The portrayal of Bill Bray was one of the most human parts of the film. Loyalty, definitely, friendship something Michael hardly had with human beings. It felt real and honestly, it made you want to know more about him. I'd definitely go see "Watching The King a Bill Bray Story" if it came out. 

The Pepsi Burn Scene

The Pepsi commercial accident scene didn’t flinch. It showed the severity & pain while hinting at the domino effect of possible pill and surgery addiction. I didn't know the he almost could've died.  

What Didn’t Work

The Pacing

This is where the film lost me.

From childhood to Off the Wall? Blink and you miss it.

And then Thriller the most important album ever doesn’t get the depth it deserves.

MTV got a scene, but not big enough for me. 

Those aren't a small misses those were movements that started a revolution. 

What Was Missing

No The Wiz?

NoWe Are the World? 

That’s wild.

I wish we got some Stevie & Marvin Gaye,

2 people Michael not only looked up to and was mentored by but also his competitive gene wanted to be much better than. 

I understand that Janet and Diana Ross didn't want to be in the biopic,

but their absence made the movie feel "incomplete", 

I feel some of those conversations with Latoya were really with Janet. 

Joe Jackson’s Portrayal

This might be the most layered and unpopular critique but....

I don't like how Joe Jackson was shown entirely as a villain. 

Yes he was harsh and abusive. Yes, he manipulated and bullied the hell out of those kids and his wife. But Joe was a product of a rough environment, born in the Jim Crow south, moved to the enpovished Gary, In and did what he thought was best to protect his boys while securing their legacies. He probably came from the "spare the rod spoil the child" abusive era and he thought the only way to break his generational curse was keeping his boys together and in line to obtain generational wealth. 

That back story matters Because the same man who pushed too hard also pushed his kids out of something worse. I'm not upset they showed Joe Jackson's abuse, but there was something besides fear that had Katherine and the kids stay in that home for so long, or not bad talk him even after his death. 

The story of Joe I wish we could've seen was:

• The dangers of Gary

• the fear behind Joe’s discipline

• the complicated love between father and son

And that version would’ve hit deeper than a one note villain.

Final Thoughts

Michael Jackson isn’t a story that you can film into one lens.

He’s:

• Thriller

• Off the Wall

• Bad

• Dangerous

• The Jackson 5 era

• A shrewed business man 

• A Revolutionary who was followed and harassed by the FBI 

• And yes… even the “Wacko Jacko” chapter people don’t like to sit with

  
  

Trying to compress all of that into two hours is impossible. At times I felt like I watched a highlight reel more than a movie.

Shawn William: is a Grammy Nominated Artist who likes his new Air Fryer, a clean sink, "Red" Gatorade and colorful socks.