Michael: The 'bizarre' biopic of Jackson's early career

Key Concepts

• Biopic (Biographical Picture): A film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically documented person.
• Whitewashing: In this context, the act of deliberately omitting controversial or negative aspects of a subject's life to present a sanitized or favorable version.
• Ethical Chicainery: The use of clever, deceptive, or morally questionable tactics to bypass or obscure difficult truths.
• Vying Narratives: Conflicting accounts or perspectives regarding historical events, specifically regarding allegations of child abuse.

Analysis of the Michael Jackson Biopic

1. The Narrative Omission

The central critique of the film is its selective storytelling. While the movie successfully captures the "rise to fame that defies all the odds," it deliberately excludes the latter half of Michael Jackson’s life. Specifically, the film avoids the "darkness" that defined his later years, including the intense public controversies, the complex legal battles, and the high-profile child abuse allegations. By choosing to omit these events, the film functions as a "whitewash," presenting a curated version of history rather than a comprehensive biography.

2. Technical and Artistic Merits

Despite the ethical concerns, the reviewer acknowledges the high production value of the film:

• Acting: The lead performances are described as "brilliantly acted."
• Choreography: The dance sequences are noted as being "razor sharp," reflecting the high technical standards of the production.
• Production Quality: The film is characterized as "undeniably well-made," suggesting that the failure lies in the script and narrative strategy rather than the technical execution.

3. Ethical and Strategic Implications

The reviewer argues that the film’s structure is a calculated choice rather than a narrative necessity. The primary arguments include:

• Target Audience Manipulation: The film appears designed to "reassure super fans" and shape the perception of Gen Z, effectively rebranding Jackson’s legacy by focusing exclusively on his artistic achievements.
• The "Sequel" Problem: By treating the controversial aspects of his life as something that can be ignored or relegated to a potential future project, the filmmakers undermine the integrity of the current film.
• Moral Responsibility: The reviewer asserts that because the controversy—including the "notorious celebrity trials"—is an inseparable part of Jackson’s public record, ignoring it renders the film ethically compromised.

4. Significant Statements

• "By ignoring it and essentially deleting it as they make a sequel, they've turned the whole exercise into a whitewash." — This highlights the reviewer's stance that the omission is a deliberate act of historical revisionism.
• "Its purpose seems to be to reassure super fans and convince Gen Z that this is the part of the Michael Jackson story that mattered." — This identifies the film as a piece of strategic reputation management rather than an objective biographical work.

Synthesis and Conclusion

The Michael Jackson biopic is presented as a paradox: it is a technically proficient and well-acted film that fails as a biographical work due to its refusal to engage with the full scope of its subject's life. By prioritizing a sanitized narrative over the "tangled vying narratives" of Jackson's legal and personal controversies, the film sacrifices historical honesty for the sake of image preservation. Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that the film's "ethical chicainery" prevents it from being a credible or recommendable piece of cinema, as it ignores the essential, albeit dark, components of the Michael Jackson story.