"Michael": The light and shadow of a superstar, in search of the "light"

Synopsis of "Michael"

With his overwhelming vocal talent and groundbreaking dance performances, Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop," transcended the boundaries of an artist and became a global icon. However, behind that glory lay the loneliness of a precocious genius, the constraints of an authoritarian father, and the struggle between his love for his family and the vision that swirled within him…

Index

• The conflict and estrangement with his father were central to the drama.
• Recreating the legendary moment with perfect dance moves
• One "solution" as a musician film

The conflict and estrangement with his father were central to the drama.

The world was gripped by shock and sadness when the news of his death broke. It was the morning of June 26, 2009, Japan time. Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50. His "THIS IS IT" tour, which Michael himself had declared would be his last concert, was scheduled to begin on July 13 of that year. Naturally, all dates were canceled. The film " Michael Jackson: THIS IS IT " (2009), which captured footage of the rehearsals and other aspects of the tour, became a worldwide hit as a tribute to him. Without a doubt, Michael was a superstar who symbolized his era.

The direct cause of Michael's sudden death is believed to be an overdose of anesthetic used to treat insomnia. However, the "indirect cause" is said to be a burn injury to his head 25 years earlier. During the filming of a Pepsi commercial, fireworks used in the production ignited, causing Michael severe burns to his scalp, and he has been dependent on painkillers ever since. This Pepsi commercial shoot is vividly recreated in the film "Michael" (26). The film also reveals that Michael did not want to be a part of the commercial shoot in the first place.

At the time, Michael had established himself as an unshakeable solo artist thanks to the phenomenal sales of his album " Thriller ." However, his father, Joe, used Michael's fame to his advantage, and under the pretext of "doing it for the family," had him and his other brothers participate in the Jacksons' (formerly the Jackson 5) tour, and in that process, he half-forced Michael into doing a Pepsi commercial. This is how the film portrays the situation. It is heartbreaking that Michael went into it thinking, "This is my last time, for my father," only to have that tragic accident occur. Thus, the relationship between Michael and his father, Joe, is at the heart of the story of "Michael." Certainly, this central theme was necessary as a tool to "tie up" Michael's turbulent life.

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So, is the drama with his father the central focus of the film, providing the emotional impact? Not exactly, that's not the case with "Michael." Soon after the opening, we see Joe, who discovered Michael's vocal talent, giving his young son a Spartan training regimen that includes beating him with a belt, foreshadowing the later conflict. However, as we watch the film, we are soon captivated by the performance of the Jackson 5, centered around Michael. The first highlight is the scene in 1968 when the Jackson 5 sing "Don't Say Goodbye" at the Regal Theatre in Chicago. This stage paved the way for their entry into the major record label Motown, and Michael's genius vocals are on full display. Incidentally, "Don't Say Goodbye" was released after they joined Motown, so there is a chronological inconsistency, but we can overlook that as a cinematic device.

The film's energy continues to build as it features performances of iconic songs from the Jackson 5, The Jacksons, and Michael Jackson's solo career, demonstrating the filmmakers' understanding of what so many people want to experience in a theater. This style is shared with Graham King's " Bohemian Rhapsody " (2018), which also shares the same producer (the scene where the camera goes back in time to the protagonist's back before he takes the stage is exactly the same), making it, in a sense, a classic approach for a musician biopic. Of course, success depends on the "accuracy" of the song performances, and "Michael" focuses its efforts heavily on that aspect.

Recreating the legendary moment with perfect dance moves