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By Sean Patrick Kernan
The morbid truth of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” is that many in the audience will spend much of the film's two hour run time searching for clues to how Michael Jackson died. Shot just weeks before his death on June 25th 2009, “This Is It” shockingly shows a Michael Jackson who is lithe, agile, adroit and in control. A musical auteur crafting his music like a pro and creating a whole new musical experience that could have changed his legacy.
The Michael Jackson of “This Is It” does not look like a drug addict or a man in desperate pain. Granted, these two hours were cut from hundreds of hours of footage where Jackson's troubles may not have been readily apparent. Nevertheless, based on what we see, Jackson is healthy and mentally, he's not merely aware; rather he is adept and fully in control. In fact he is the vision of a visionary artist.
The footage compiled for “This Is It” was meant for Michael's private collection. After he died Michael's family and business partners convinced Jackson's friend and “This Is It” director Joe Ortega to cut the footage and give fans one last glimpse of The King of Pop. Ortega has done that and more giving us the musical legacy of Michael as well as glimpses of a star who never whined or cried, never acted like a diva, but a perfectionist and a creator.
It is the vision of Michael Jackson that fans wish were the dominant image of Jackson rather than the alien figure of tabloid headline. It is a sad irony that Jackson's death would deliver this change in Jackson's fortune, warping his image back to icon from oddball. It's sadder still that the potential of “This Is It,” the actual London performances, could have done what his death seems to have done, which is restore Michael's legend. From the footage in “This Is It,” you can see such a spectacle and so much raw, visionary talent, that you can't help but speculate that Michael, barring anymore odd behavior, might have clawed his way back to icon status.
The mystery of Michael Jackson's death provides an eerie and morbid fascination but the lasting impact of “This Is It” may be as the final word on Michael Jackson's legacy, beyond the oddity, the talent wins out and Michael goes into history as remarkable singer and visionary showman. Oh, what might have been?
BYLINE:
Sean Patrick Kernan is a film critic. Check him out at: http://www.myspace.com/number1ramjamfan. Email Sean at sean@zoiksonline.com.
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6 Comments:
Its Kenny Ortega not Joe... and Michael was ALWAYS an ICON.. and it was the tabloids with the lies that diminished his light... but now he is shinning brighter than ever, maybe now the press should say three simple words.. MICHAEL WE'RE SORRY,
Michael was always a visionary and a humanitarian, and those of us who dont hang on the every word of the mass media knew it. I feel sorry for those who still hate from false reports.
Seems there are alot of sick, bitter and unkind people and words against Michael. These people seem to enjoy saying evil comments about people true or not..Michael is a breath of fresh air and a great exciting musician an artist and way to many people adore him..So haters find something better to do ..RIP Michael
I just had a chance to watch this film and I was blown away. The man still had it! He is so hands on in the process down to every key of an instrument. It showed a side of Michael that we never had a chance to see before. It would have been an amazing show. He was really putting his heart and soul into it.
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