After months of hype, I finally saw the new Michael Jackson movie: Micheal. It was much more than just a musical movie. It seems that most people probably went to see it for the dancing and the famous songs, but I found it to be a really deep and emotional experience. Even though the movie is quite long, sitting at a little over two hours, it never felt slow. It was so sentimental and focused on the man behind the music, rather than just his fame.
The highlight of the entire film is definitely Jaafar Jackson. Since he is Michael’s actual nephew, there is a connection there that you just wouldn’t get with any other actor. It was really nice to hear a familiar voice and see those familiar movements. It didn’t feel like someone was doing an impression at a talent show; it felt like he was truly channeling his uncle.
The movie is, honestly, very sad. It doesn’t stem away from the darker parts of his childhood. Watching the scenes with his father, Joseph “Joe” Jackson, was especially tough. In movies and media, I feel like seeing a Black father beating on his son is often normalized or shown as “just how it was,” but personally, I never experienced that in my household. Because of that, it was very hard for me to watch.
I believe that hitting isn’t discipline; it’s just pain. Seeing that on screen helps you understand why Michael stayed so “childlike” as an adult. It was like he was trying to find the childhood he never got to have because he was always working or being punished.
One of the most sentimental parts in the movie was his relationship with his mother. Those scenes provided a much-needed warmth that shows a lot of pressure and loneliness. They were like the “light” to Joe Jackson’s “dark.” Without those moments, the movie might have been too depressing to finish, but they helped show that he did have love in his life.
On my “sleep scale” I would rate this an 8/10. The only reason it isn’t a perfect 10 is because the ending hurt more than it should have. It left me feeling “stranded” because there were so many questions left unanswered. While I understand that a “Part two” is needed to finish such a big story, ending it there felt a bit abrupt. Still, it is a great movie that makes you think about how we treat child stars and what it really means to be a family.
What did you think of the Michael Movie? Leave a comment below.
