Predictable but spectacular, should you go see “Michael”, the biopic of the King of Pop?

Don’t expect any revelations about Michael Jackson. “Michael” by Antoine Fuqua is a film co-produced by several brothers and sisters of the singer who died in 2009 and by one of his children, Prince. The star is also played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, Jermaine’s son… chosen “after two years of casting” according to the official story. The feature film ends in 1988 so at no time is there any question of the most sensitive subject in the artist’s life: accusations of pedophilia. Beyond this blind spot, “Michael” is a classic and predictable biopic. But it’s also great entertainment with ultra-pleasant musical scenes.

The film begins with the Jackson Five. In Gary, Indiana, a father who doesn’t want his five sons to spend their lives in the factory like him trains them to become singing stars. Joseph Jackson makes his boys practice night and day, Michael takes his belt when he rebels and the mother, Katherine, sighs passively in the doorway. “Sorry, Michael, I should have protected you,” she says to her youngest son years later, in one of the film’s somewhat overly demonstrative lines.

In a snap of the fingers and a brutal jump in time, the feature film then tells the story of a young man with dark glasses who wants to “kill” his father. “Here’s your first mission: you’re going to fire Joseph. Quickly,” he tells his lawyer, who will do so by fax. All of a sudden, Michael dreams of freedom, of “expressing his creativity” and flying on his own… while living under his parents’ roof, frantically reading “Peter Pan” and downing ice cream and buckets of popcorn with his mother in front of the TV.

Looking for the man behind the mask

The star was torn between her family and her desire for emancipation, fascinated by the world of childhood. “Michael” shows it, but never immerses the viewer in the head of Michael Jackson. The feature film also remains on the surface when it also shows these hysterical fans, these mail trucks which park in the parking lot of the family home… Without questioning the vertigo of this kid alone to the point of adopting wild animals.

We see, in scenes that provoke a slightly embarrassed laugh, a giraffe walking in the Jacksons’ garden, the python Muscles sliding on the living room sofa and Bubbles, Michael’s chimpanzee, reading stories with his “friend”. The feature film shows the artist at the cosmetic surgeon before a nose operation. Or making “illuminated” remarks (“I must shine my light, spread love and joy”). But in the guise of Jaafar Jackson, the king of pop always appears sunny, radiant, and it is difficult to understand the man behind the mask.

Impressive, these concert scenes

If the film is neither a psychological portrait of Michael Jackson, nor the story of a revolution in the world of music (this aspect is completely absent from the story), it nonetheless remains a very pleasant cinematographic object. Firstly because the destiny of Michael Jackson is incredibly romantic. Then because Jaafar Jackson, who is a singer, dancer and has a stunning resemblance to his uncle, completely manages to resurrect the star.

Finally, because this biopic is carried by impressive concert scenes and, obviously, immense hits (“I’ll Be There”, “Never Can Say Goodbye”, “Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough”, “Beat It”, “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Bad”, “Human Nature”…). Antoine Fuqua, the director of “Training Day”, “The Guilty” and “Equalizer”, knows how to do it in terms of directing. And he has the intelligence to leave time for musical moments so that the force of the songs and choreography carries us away.