This Is It (B+ or 3/4 stars)
In a screaming press conference in London, Michael Jackson exclaimed to his fans that his long awaited concert tour would be it, "This is it. This is the final curtain call" - how ironic those words would be. I've always loved MJ's music. His personal life? I really could care less. I am not so sure that he molested children. I don't know what he was thinking dangling his baby off a balcony (though, I do think the situation was blown out of proportion). And his defeatist sense of vanity (skin bleachings, nose jobs) has always proved him weird. So I never thought I would care one way or another about 'This Is It', directed by Kenny Ortega. Boy, was I wrong. Through a compilation of interviews, stunning rehearsals, & authentic, never-intended-to-be-seen backstage footage, this revealing documentary was nothing at all what I was expecting to see. Watching MJ as he diligently prepared for his sold-out shows is truly hypnotic.
Simply put, this film chronicles the 3 months in 2009 leading up to what would have been MJ's tour (his first in 10 yrs.). I always knew MJ was a great singer, & an exceptional dancer. But I had no idea that he was also an incredible listener, perfectionist, filmmaker, actor, architect (of his sets), & overall artiste. Sometimes you get these ideas (of the rich & famous) that they walk around aimlessly with assistants & specialists who do all the thinking for them. Not MJ. He had almost complete control over everything being put into this show. Every song, every note, every bar, every crescendo, every dance step, every arm movement, the sound, the lighting, the screens ... he had strong opinions on every little detail. I was very impressed with the passion he poured into everything.
This concert was going to be huge. Kenny Ortega put this film together in the most cohesive of ways. We first meet the nervous dancers who will audition to be a part of the 11-person dance crew for the show. And after this, we just sit back, relax, & experience MJ rehearsing his various musical numbers. He sits in on the choosing of his dancers. He acts (while inserted into scenes from a Rita Hayworth/Humphrey Bogart black & white movie. Through visual effects, he has a spectacular machine-gun battle with 'ole Bogie). Michael gives input to the directors of photography (who film an amazing horror-movie sequence for "Thriller"). He devotes a lengthy segment of the concert to his environmental cause; to keep the world green. This is highlighted by showing gorgeous rain forest footage.
'This Is It' focuses only on the weeks preceding MJ's stunning death. There is no in-depth look at his psyche, or the stages of his skin color, or allegations of his molestations. And yet, this is still an exhilarating, intimate, bizarre film about a bizarre subject. Scandal free, this is a movie which aims to celebrate a musical legend - nothing more. MJ was far from my favorite person. But I love his music. And I was stunned to see just how strong, agile, lively, sweet, humble, fun, devoted, & courteous (to his cast & crew) he was. You can tell a lot about someone when you study their every move, every gesture, every utterance over the course of 2 hours; and MJ is no exception. We've grooved to his songs. We've seen him in magazines. And yes, we've followed his every defamation on crappy tabloid shows like Access Hollywood. But 'This Is It' allowed me to see the side(s) of a man that I never thought I'd see ... a normal human being.
MJ's out-of-nowhere death had me (& many people) assuming that he must have been very weak in his final weeks, and/or drugged up. But this film dispels those assumptions. I saw no effects of drug abuse whatsoever. At age 50, Michael looked the same as he did 15 yrs. ago (which isn't saying much, but you get my point). His physical conditioning appeared fine. His clarity of thought (vision of how the concert should be) - perfect. His choreography - as original & precise as it's always been. We don't get to see the full-on concert here, nor do we further understand Michael's complex mindset. But the film is still inherently interesting. We are voyeurs to this man - who - screwball or not, was a freak-of-nature musical legend. And he was also a lover of life; working for children's cause, AIDS, the environment, & countless other acts of humanity. There's a haunting scene on the last day of rehearsal when MJ & Kenny Ortega join hands in a circle with the crew, & thanks them. Michael Jackson was great. And I'm now saddened to realize what more he could have possibly brought to the world.
Simply put, this film chronicles the 3 months in 2009 leading up to what would have been MJ's tour (his first in 10 yrs.). I always knew MJ was a great singer, & an exceptional dancer. But I had no idea that he was also an incredible listener, perfectionist, filmmaker, actor, architect (of his sets), & overall artiste. Sometimes you get these ideas (of the rich & famous) that they walk around aimlessly with assistants & specialists who do all the thinking for them. Not MJ. He had almost complete control over everything being put into this show. Every song, every note, every bar, every crescendo, every dance step, every arm movement, the sound, the lighting, the screens ... he had strong opinions on every little detail. I was very impressed with the passion he poured into everything.
This concert was going to be huge. Kenny Ortega put this film together in the most cohesive of ways. We first meet the nervous dancers who will audition to be a part of the 11-person dance crew for the show. And after this, we just sit back, relax, & experience MJ rehearsing his various musical numbers. He sits in on the choosing of his dancers. He acts (while inserted into scenes from a Rita Hayworth/Humphrey Bogart black & white movie. Through visual effects, he has a spectacular machine-gun battle with 'ole Bogie). Michael gives input to the directors of photography (who film an amazing horror-movie sequence for "Thriller"). He devotes a lengthy segment of the concert to his environmental cause; to keep the world green. This is highlighted by showing gorgeous rain forest footage.
'This Is It' focuses only on the weeks preceding MJ's stunning death. There is no in-depth look at his psyche, or the stages of his skin color, or allegations of his molestations. And yet, this is still an exhilarating, intimate, bizarre film about a bizarre subject. Scandal free, this is a movie which aims to celebrate a musical legend - nothing more. MJ was far from my favorite person. But I love his music. And I was stunned to see just how strong, agile, lively, sweet, humble, fun, devoted, & courteous (to his cast & crew) he was. You can tell a lot about someone when you study their every move, every gesture, every utterance over the course of 2 hours; and MJ is no exception. We've grooved to his songs. We've seen him in magazines. And yes, we've followed his every defamation on crappy tabloid shows like Access Hollywood. But 'This Is It' allowed me to see the side(s) of a man that I never thought I'd see ... a normal human being.
MJ's out-of-nowhere death had me (& many people) assuming that he must have been very weak in his final weeks, and/or drugged up. But this film dispels those assumptions. I saw no effects of drug abuse whatsoever. At age 50, Michael looked the same as he did 15 yrs. ago (which isn't saying much, but you get my point). His physical conditioning appeared fine. His clarity of thought (vision of how the concert should be) - perfect. His choreography - as original & precise as it's always been. We don't get to see the full-on concert here, nor do we further understand Michael's complex mindset. But the film is still inherently interesting. We are voyeurs to this man - who - screwball or not, was a freak-of-nature musical legend. And he was also a lover of life; working for children's cause, AIDS, the environment, & countless other acts of humanity. There's a haunting scene on the last day of rehearsal when MJ & Kenny Ortega join hands in a circle with the crew, & thanks them. Michael Jackson was great. And I'm now saddened to realize what more he could have possibly brought to the world.