MICHAEL

US, 2026, 127 minutes, Colour.

Jafaar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Juliano Valdi, Larenz Tate, Kendrick Sampson, Laura Harrier.

Directed by Antoine Faqua.

Michael is a cinema extravaganza, a celebration of the music and talent of Michael Jackson. It is for his fans, older, as well as up-and-coming. And it is also the story of an unusual man, his character, childlike in many ways, enthusiastic, but also growing into a man of steely intentions and ambitions. And he achieved them.

And, while there is a great deal of celebration of his music, his stage and screen presence, singing, dancing, his energetic feet, there is a great deal of the underlying family drama. Fans of Michael Jackson will know that his father, Joseph, a miner from Gary Indiana, was a dominating, even frightening presence in the household, intense ambitions for his sons to be successful in show business, the Jackson Five, with little Michael at the centre, the star. Colman Domingo is a frighteningly powerful presence as Joseph. Throughout the film there are highly dramatic moments, violent confrontations with his son, belting him, making demands, then, finally challenged by his son, life-defiance.

Which means then that this is basically a musical with an underlying family story. And, it ends in 1988, a peak of musical performance success, Michael a world star. Which raises the questions in many audience’s minds about the subsequent years of his life, his unlikely marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, the building of Neverland, his eccentric lifestyle, and, then, the accusations of sexual molestation. These are not a part of this film. There have been documentaries like, Leaving Neverland, probing Michael Jackson’s later years. They could be part of a further film about Michael.

But, what we have here, is the Jackson exuberance, and a strong star performance by Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jafaar (son of Jermaine), its lip-syncing to Michael Jackson singing, but displaying all the energy that marked his uncle’s singing and dancing. And the young actor, Juliano Valdi, playing little Michael, is a vital talent, singing and dancing, and the scenes with him and his bullying father. (Michael sister, Janet Jackson, chose not to be a participant in the film at all and her absence does seem strange.)

The supporting cast is strong, some veterans like Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy. Miles Teller plays Michael Jackson’s agent and promoter, John Branca, with glimpses into the racist attitudes at MTV and the CBS executive (a cameo from Mike Myers) pressurising a breakthrough. And there is Joseph Jackson approaching sports entrepreneur, Don King, to promote concerts. And some re-creations of the filming of Thriller.

By 1988, Michael Jackson, ambitious, had achieved his childhood hopes, his adult efforts, a key musical figure of the 20^th century. But, as we know, there was more to come.

1. Michael Jackson as a 20^th-century celebrity, in the US, around the world? This film as a tribute to his talent and celebrity? Singing, dancing, stage presence, television presence, as a child, growing up, as adult?
2. The involvement of the Jackson family in this production, Jafar Jackson as Michael’s nephew, impersonation of his uncle, dancing and feet movement, sinking the songs?
3. The inclusion of so many Jackson 5 songs, Michael Jackson’s own songs, the situation of songs inclusion in the film, rehearsal, performance, small clubs, concerts and tours, studios, the Farewell Concert, London…? And the filming of sequences from Thriller?
4. Comment about the omission of some characters, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson’s personal life, marriage, children? And the personal issues in the court cases? The film stating that it continues and that being a different film and different issues?
5. The impact of Joseph Jackson, Colman Domingo’s presence and performance, his background, mining, his long-suffering and devoted wife, his ambitions for his sons, the Jackson 5, the opening sequences of rehearsal, his demands, especially on Michael, the eye line, the violence of the belting, the revelations about his character, intensity, exercise of power? And the impact, physically, mentally, emotionally on Michael?
6. The initial success, the gig, Michael and his presence, audience response? Michael growing up, the background of his brothers, their working together, the musical talent, the singing, supporting their brother?
7. Gary Indiana, the mining background, the moves to California, money coming in, the change of life, style, clothes…? Joseph and his becoming the manager and entrepreneur? Promoting the Five, the discussions with various producers, the significance of the discussion with Don King, King and his support, sporting background, promotions, Michael to be at the centre, and the veiled threat to Joseph about honesty?
8. Michael, as a child, reading, Peter Pan, the characters, his father as Captain Hook? The eternal boy, never growing up, living in Neverland? His reading in the car, a refuge? And pets, as he grew up, the snake, the discussions about the llama and spitting, actually getting a giraffe? In the grounds of the house? His childlike delight?
9. But his ambitions, to be a world star, wanting to be on his own, breaking the hold of his father, their various meetings and confrontations, even his father’s threat to belt him as an adult, his mother’s intervention?
10. His meeting with the executives, reputation of John Branca, his giving the right answers, the executives, Michael choosing him, and the scenes of their work together over the years? Branca’s achievement for Michael success?
11. The gangs, the style of dancing, Michael’s visit, gathering them together, explanations, the dancing style, his inventiveness? And the filming of Thriller, John Landis the director, Michael’s make up, the living dead, the dancing, focus on his feet? The visit to CBS, Branca and Michael making the demands, the executive offering him everything, the phone call to MTV the producer, the racist background of excluding African-American videos, the pressure, the consent, the record-breaking sales and views?
12. Joseph Jackson, his reaction to Michael, pride as well as his own pride hurt, the confrontations, Michael and his mother, the brothers?
13. The pressure to do the tour of the Jackson 5, the Don King backing, Michael agreeing, the performances, the scenes of the crowds, the venues, the excitement, the performances?
14. Michael, his determination, and to get away from his father, the buildup to the sequences of the Farewell Concert in LA, the success, the response, and the drama of Michael’s announcement that that was the end of the Jackson 5, his father, listening, the response, Michael defiant?
15. The London concerts, the British crowds and their response?
16. And the film ending there, the achievement of success, the musical phenomenon of the 20^th century, Michael’s future, and the reality of the behind-the-scenes, Neverland, marriage, children, abuse accusations, court cases, his death, and the documentaries about him?