New film wey dem call ‘Michael’ don finally show for cinema. Na biopic wey dey talk about life of late pop legend Michael Jackson. Director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan na dem make am, and e dey focus on Jackson im early career from childhood reach 1988 Bad World Tour for London.
Film no touch any of those serious allegations wey dey about child sexual abuse wey don stain Jackson im legacy for many years. Dem just end am before those wahala start. For end of film, dem put one card wey write “His story continues” – make people dey wonder if dem go make part two.
Jaafar Jackson, wey be pikin of Jackson im brother Jermaine Jackson, na im play Michael Jackson for adult part. Juliano Valdi play young Michael for early years. Colman Domingo play Joe Jackson, Michael im papa wey be tough man. Nia Long play Katherine Jackson, Michael im mama.
Film show how Michael start with Jackson 5, how im get perfect pitch from age 10, and how im later become solo superstar. E show how Quincy Jones produce three big albums: Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. E show how MTV finally play “Billie Jean” after CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff threaten dem.
Film dey celebrate Jackson im musical genius and dance skills. Jaafar Jackson do well to copy Michael im dance moves like Moonwalk, Robot, Spin and Toe Stand. But film no really go deep about how Michael develop im style or how im create im biggest songs.
Main wahala for film na between Michael and im papa Joe. Dem show how Joe dey beat Michael with belt when im dey small, and how im still dey control im even when Michael don become bigger star than all im brothers. Even when Michael get serious burn accident while shooting Pepsi commercial, Joe dey ask doctor when im fit perform again.
Film show Michael im love for children through hospital visits, and im obsession with Peter Pan and Neverland. Bubbles the chimp dey there, plus other animals like llama and giraffe. But e no show how Michael im face change through many surgeries – only first nose surgery dey there.
Some critics say film dey too bland and no show the real kontroversy wey follow Jackson im life. Guardian newspaper call am “frustratingly shallow” and say e avoid “elephant in the living room.” Dem say e full of music movie clichés: recording studio scenes, tour bus, billboard charts, meetings with corporate executives.
Film end with 1988 Wembley Stadium concert when Michael bin 30 years. No Janet Jackson for film, and Paris Jackson no take executive producer credit like other family members. Miles Teller play manager John Branca, KeiLyn Durrel Jones play bodyguard Bill Bray, Larenz Tate play Motown chief Berry Gordy.
Whether dem go make part two no sure. Producer Graham King and Jackson family estate dey consider “Michael 2” but dem need different style if dem wan talk about later years with allegations and kontroversies. For now, this film dey focus only on the music and early success.
If you be fan wey just wan celebrate Jackson im music and dance, this film go sweet you. Dion Beebe shoot the performance scenes with plenty visual electricity, and the music sound better than before. But if you wan film wey go address all the kontroversies, this one no be your mate.
Film dey cinemas from Friday, April 24. E get PG-13 rating and last 2 hours 9 minutes. Whether e go change anybody mind about Michael Jackson no sure, but e definitely go make old fans remember why dem love im music first time.
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