Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Review by Loc

As mentioned in the Year In Review, this documentary captured the fascination of a ravenous public. And surprisingly, it wasn’t the morbidly cynical bunch. Not so surprisingly, it was the rabidly fanatical bunch. Yet, regardless of the audience, this film was widely praised and largely embraced. Really? Quick hit: yup, and it’s understandable.

Let’s start with the meta-view and step outside of the film. The strange tales that followed Michael Jackson’s life were far from rare. With the unending physical changes to the whimsical Neverland Ranch to the more nefarious allegations that followed, Jackson’s career had become a media circus in his later years. Even with the announcement of his latest tour, there was probably more press devoted to his tabloid-filled exploits than his upcoming performances.

Then he passed away in a suspiciously mysterious manner, and the media went nuts. Was he murdered? Was he a drug addict? What really happened? As bad and sad as it sounds, it was probably the gossip-column equivalent to the Super Bowl.

And then something weird happened. The undying fans, the kids who ranged from 5 to 50, they let all the gossip-mongering go and embraced their departed idol. Everyone focused on the music, the dancing, the star power, and the King of Pop. And everyone chose to forget about the weird stuff. Which was weird itself, because the weird stuff was creepy.

So this review does the same, focused on the performer and not the personal. And not because it should be that way, but mostly because this movie is about a master performer developing a great spectacle. And if that’s the case, we need not focus on the weird stuff, but that doesn’t mean it’s forgotten or any less creepy. And with that cheerful introduction, on to the review!

Culled from the hours and hours of rehearsal footage, This Is It is an amazing collection. Not necessarily because it’s groundbreaking, because it’s not. More due to the fact that this footage works so seamlessly as a making-of documentary. Framed around each musical number, this film seems like a fully planned concert presentation. The shots look much more polished than most rehearsal footage, and the singing is excellent. Granted, some of the audio is most likely enhanced, but this is probably very close to attending a Michael Jackson concert, which is amazing.

The set list is an amazing collection of top hits. From Beat It to Thriller to Black or White to Heal The World to Man In The Mirror, you begin to realize how prolific Jackson’s hit-making abilities were. His prime may have been with 1984′s Thriller, but he spawned numerous hits in his following records. Yet, with expectations amazingly high, it seemed like Jackson’s accomplishments were relegated to yawn-inducing expectations, only to be appreciated in this type of reflective retrospective.

Yet, there is one important aspect that makes This Is It more than a making-of documentary, more than a behind-the-scenes concert, and more than a well-timed moneygrab. Jackson’s performer genius and unending drive is sometimes glimpsed in these candid shots. It’s not often, and it’s not pervasive, but it does come out. Like when he discusses a particular arrangement with his musical director, you see how in synch he is with his music. Or when he is determined to draw a fiery conclusion to Beat It, you see it again. Even something as simple as Jackson directing the director to insert a longer silence to punctuate a particularly poignant point, you see Jackson at work.

Beyond the technical genius, watching the physical performance is intriguing as well. First, the skeletal thinness is surprising and sad at the same time. It’s hard to separate the external post-death facts with the footage, and you realize this man was probably not as healthy as we assumed. Second, Jackson’s voice was still amazing. Even in rehearsal settings, he belts out numbers with seeming ease. Last, Jackson could dance. Before popping, locking, and breaking were staples on America’s Best Dance Crew, Jackson was doing it in videos like Thriller and Smooth Criminal. He made it look easy. He made it look simple. And when you get a close-up view, and you really pay attention, the talent is undeniable. He was a remarkable performer and it comes out vividly, even in rehearsals.

Overall, This Is It works on a couple levels. On the most basic level, you get a rousing concert documentary with great performances. At a different level, This Is It reveals how Jackson worked, how he carried himself, and how great of a performer he was, even as he envisioned this as the finale to his career. On each, This Is It is an entertaining film and worth a viewing. Out of 100 million albums sold, This Is It is certifiable-gold with 70 million. Very good stuff.

Rated: 7/10