In “Michael,” the biopic with Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson as the centerpiece, there’s authentic movie magic. Jermaine Jackson’s son is launching a film career, and yep, it’s a stunning mix of emotional acting and enticing impersonation. By end of the flick, you may feel Jaafar isn’t a copycat here; after all, he’s got that DNA to vocalize and dance.
Here are 10 take-aways:
1—“Thriller,” MJ’s iconic Halloween-y vocal/dance, is the No. 1 in the roster rock from the King of Pop’s catalogue. So the precision and enactment of the famous MTV video depended on the dancers learning and reimagining the moves and grooves for the big screen. So yes, “Thriller” is a killer!
2—“Billie Jean” is a super duper second-placer. Again, the recreation chills because of the energy and power delivered.
3 – The single-glove lives and shines. Supposedly worn, to shield scars of a developing skin condition. What happened is that the glove became an iconic element of his presence.
4 – The moonwalks are plentiful and Jaafar didn’t create them, but he perfected the glides and bouncing to and fro, and his uncle must be proud that the crown has been sort of unofficially turned over.
5—Colman Domingo— as Joseph “Joe” Jackson, MJ’s real-life father — is perfection as the meanie patriarch who belt-whipped the kid in his mentorship of Michael and the Jackson 5. It’s the film’s toughest and most challenging and complex character – a bad dad – with personal greed in his veins with demonic demands. However, he could earn an Oscar nomination next year.
6 –MJ’s link to Peter Pan and Neverland was real; it explains a lot why he wanted to be forever young.
7 – His at-home zoo was strangely real; peacocks, a giraffe, a snake, a llama and the adorable chimp named Bubbles were among his animal pals depicted. And toys – MJ was a boy-man who loved stuffed figures including Mickey Mouse. And ‘twas cute, when he taught Bubbles how to navigate the Twister gameboard.
8 – As painful it must’ve been in real life, that horrid accident of MJ’s misfortune – his hair caught on fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial – was a moment of terrifying winching. Yet he persevered, and this misfortune changed him into a humanitarian supporting hospital burn units.
8 – Missing in action: Janet Jackson. Pourquoi? Marvelous in action: child actor Juliano Valdi(aka Juliano Krue Valdi) as Young Michael at 12: he fibs, saying he’s 8, at one point of the film. Mystiful.
9—Gasping, screaming, fainting girls are part of the shrieking and adoring fan ship. Happens quite often in rock shows, dating back to Elvis Presley, but the hysteria was vital, providing raw energy.
10 –This is Part One of the MJ story; Part Two is coming — unnecessary, since No. 1 showed and glowed with the MF the world cherished. The sequel will downplay the magic of his music and deal with MJ’s dark side as a pedophile, with a tangle of accusations and court issues, for sure. This is not “Wicked.” …
One is a Lonely Number
And there was only one again, in the challenging and elistis $2 Million Club. And that’s
“Harry Potter,” again and again and again.
The Top 10:
1—”Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,”$2.31 million
2—“Hamilton,” $1.94 million
3—“The Lion King,” $1.89 million
4–Every Brilliant Thing,” $1.65 million
5—“Death of a Salesman,”$1.47 million
6—“Chicago,” $1.59 million
7—“MJ the Musical,” $1.35 million
8—“Moulin Rouge,” $2.64 million
9—“Ragtime,” $1.17 million
10—“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” $1.00 million
The entire list, courtesy of the Broadway League:
