Jackson's Final Curtain Call Filled with Perfection, Talent
Michael Jackson was a week away from flying to London to perform for an unprecedented 50 sold out shows in the world renowned O2 Area. Unfortunately, he never made it. His untimely death was a shock to the world; one to be felt for years to come. But a public memorial service and burial helped ease the pain of his departure and helped garner interest as his record sales skyrocketed, extending the King of Pop's lead as the highest selling artist of all time. But for most fans, hearing his music isn't enough. That is why those behind the concert have come together to create a montage of footage, originally shot for Michael's personal collection, during his extended rehearsals in Los Angeles. The end result is Michael Jackson's This Is It, a documentary showcasing the legend's final days on stage.
In terms of just how great the movie is, This Is It is not an easy film to critique. Not only is it near impossible to say anything negative pertaining to the late pop icon's stage presence, but raw rehearsal footage must be viewed as a work in progress, not a final product.
Directed and edited by concert co-creator and High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, the film captures our lead in a number of vulnerable situations; though still showing that at the ripe age of 50, he still had what it would have taken to entertain. Working hard to make a statement with what he promised to be his last venture out on tour, Jackson quickly reveals himself a perfectionist. His insistence on getting all the dance moves, lighting and music just right is not only an art, but a down-right obsession. It shines some light on the musician within the man, showing that his mind was always racing with creativity as almost every call and cue is given by the man himself - laughter will erupt as we get to hear Kenny Ortega constantly change his viewpoints to match that of Jackson, cause we all know that no one argues with the King.
The highlight of the film comes when Michael stops mid-song to correct the pacing of the track. After being told that a sound check would be required, Jackson simply says, 'I want it played like I wrote it.' It is then that the true colors of the tour come to light as I began to realize that the 'This Is It' show was nothing short of a Michael Jackson showcase. He had the entire thing planned perfectly in his mind, quite possibly having had it stored there for years, and it was his time to let it all out for the world to see. He didn't plan on allowing anyone to change or ruin a single moment - and that ladies and gentleman, is what makes the man both a mystery and an inspiration.
Occasional interviews with the dancers and band give the show a humane touch; though none of the on-camera discussions were done post mortem - an approach that I was hoping for from the get go. The testimonials were necessary, especially to grasp just how big a dream each of these entertainers were living; I am just thankful that it didn't overtake the music in the film, for that would have been a huge disappointment by anyone's standards.
The film, though interesting to watch, does carry a very standard feel to it as they rarely venture away from the one song, one lead in format. It isn't a bad thing, especially considering the film is a 'concert' piece; it just would have been nice to see them slice things up a bit. In fact, I honestly believe that the cut footage would have made for a better TV-special than theatrical release - but then again, what do I know.
The film, though interesting to watch, does carry a standard feel to it as they rarely venture away from the one song, one lead in format. It isn't a bad thing, especially considering the film is a 'concert' piece; it just would have been nice to see them slice things up a bit. The voice of Jackson seemed to be dubbed, not actually sung by the late singer; which, with the addition of the external footage that was to be played behind the stage, often gives the film a music-video style feel. For Jackson fans, it is a dream come true, but for those who wanted to see and hear the raw talent of the world's most successful musician, you may find yourself a bit disappointed.
*Word to the wise: stay after the credits. |
