The Mosley Review: Michael

I want you to understand something. For this current generation, none of your minds could fathom the career, the legacy and the power one man had over the entire world. There isn't and they'll never be anyone that will match the majesty of the one true King of Pop. For the rest of us that were alive to witness it all, we know that when Michael Jackson announced he had a new album release, we bought it immediately. When he had a new music video about to air on television simultaneously, we planned our lives accordingly and the world stopped! I was born into a home filled with movies and at any given moment, music was playing and of course The Jackson 5 and Michael's entire catalogue was playing. I was born after the beginning of his solo breakout career and it was glorious. That being said, I have seen almost every documentary, news report and biopic that aired and they all gave you an insight into the origins of the Jackson family. Now comes a new biopic that celebrates the creation of the iconic songs, albums and performances, but somehow was a disappointment. This film celebrates Michael in his earlier years, but lacked the required exploration into him as a human being. We get slivers of his anxieties and pain when dealing with his family drama, but it quickly shies away from the most important moments and goes into another song or business deal. I did enjoy myself, but it was unfortunate how fast this film blitz through his formative years.

Colman Domingo was outstanding and perfectly overbearing as Michael's father, Joseph Jackson. Domingo captured the relentless dedication to push his children to be the best in the most abusive ways. There was a level of venom in his voice and body language that was undeniable and scary at times. Nia Long was great as Michael's mother, Katherine Scruse-Jackson. She was the needed gentle and nurturing voice in the film and even though we didn't get too deep into their marriage, Nia embodied her strength. Larenz Tate was excellent as the legendary producer and president of Motown, Berry Gordy. For the time we spend with him, Tate brings out the charm and commanding presence of the character. I loved that we saw his supportive and constructive nature in a great scene between him and young Michael. Miles Teller was very chill and strong as Michael's entertainment lawyer and manager, John Branca. You see the strong business relationship between him and Michael begin and all though it was glossed over quickly, it showed that he actually cared about him as more than an artist. Deon Cole was a surprise as Don King. Not only did he nail his cadence, but he nailed the cutthroat nature as one of the most iconic businessmen and promoters of all time. KeiLyn Durrel Jones was awesome as Michael's personal bodyguard, Bill Bray. What I loved is that we got to see how much he cared for him and was sort of his council when needed. He was there from the beginning and as the story progresses, so does Michael's trust in him. Juliano Krue Valdi was amazing as young Michael Jackson. From the moment he's on screen, he captures the innocence and energy of the young icon. I loved that he highlighted the yearning for him to be a normal kid and that self realization that he’ll never be normal. Now the film moves quickly and once we get into the teenage years, the film takes off with an incredible performance.

Jaafar Jackson not only portrays his uncle, but he becomes his uncle, Michael Jackson. The complete transformation was undeniable and somewhat scary how many times I forgot I wasn't watching the real Michael. He nailed his speech, mannerisms and of course his iconic style of dance. I enjoyed that he kept the sweetness of Michael intact. He was a jovial man that embraced all not matter your race or belief. I enjoyed the scenes where Jaafar showcased his charity work as a humanitarian. Beyond the iconic outfits, songs and music videos, Jaafar got the chance to portray his loneliness for a bit. That's where I wish the film slowed down and focused a little harder. We get to see his internal and external demons at work when dealing with his father and the pressures of fame, but not enough in my opinion. Jaafar celebrates the icon, but I felt he didn't get enough time to showcase the young man growing into his independence. His chemistry with Nia Long was emotionally charged and every scene with Colman was fueled with tension. The kitchen scene between Michael and Joseph was where I felt the most tension and the hardest amount censorship. The actual recreations of Michael's legendary performances, music videos and creation of his biggest album, were showstopping indeed. Jaafar resurrects the legend to a point that was supernatural. Its what you came for and he delivers.

Aside from all the hits, Lior Rosner delivers a solid score that highlights the emotional core of the film. I loved how Lior weaved the tunes into the score as it gave the more quiet moments a needed punch. Visually, the film was gorgeous to witness on the big screen. The cinematography captured the scale of the arenas and the scale of his career in even the smallest venues like the county fair. Like I said before, I was disappointed that the film felt like it was put on fast forward. If you strip away all the glitz and glamour of the performances and music, what do you have? That's where the film needed to shine. It is the quiet moments away from the cameras and behind closed doors where we get to know the human being and this film sort of failed at that. I wasn't looking for the dark and tragic life of Michael, but I wanted to see this film not shy away from it either. I wanted to live in his shoes for a while before the next song. The kitchen scene was really the moment where it should've come to ahead and even the person next to me said it best. "Okay, that could've been longer." Overall, was this a great first half of a two part biopic, no. It was a fun and entertaining celebration of the icon, but it lacked the necessary depth required for it to be as groundbreaking as the man himself. If you want a true deep dive into the Jackson family, I recommend you track down a copy of the VH1 miniseries, “The Jacksons: An American Dream”. Here's to hoping part two brings it home. Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!