Director Antoine Fuqua adapted the concert and music video scenes while remaining faithful to the original recordings, producing a technically polished and lavish work. But once the film moves into the story's background, its serious shortcomings become apparent. First of all, this production does not cover the artist's entire life, showing only the period from his childhood to 1988. Much like "Bohemian Rhapsody", the film avoids deeply analyzing its central character, instead simply listing his achievements. Family dynamics are extremely superficial; the parents are sharply coded as good and bad, while the siblings are not given nearly enough screen time. The biggest reason critics have rated the film so poorly is precisely that its producers were part of Jackson's inner circle, resulting in a completely one-sided perspective.
The film ending in 1988 is actually the result of a forced decision. A biographical film can create controversy not only through what it tells, but also through what it leaves out. One of the most controversial allegations in Jackson's life, child abuse, has been omitted entirely. In fact, the third part of the film's original version focused on the 1994 Jordan Chandler lawsuit, in which Jackson paid $23 million. However, under an agreement with the family, mentioning this name in the film was prohibited. As a result, a large portion of the film was cut, reshoots were carried out at an additional cost of $50 million, and the ending was moved back to 1988, before the allegations had begun.
Alongside all these behind-the-scenes problems, the film's most talked-about and debated aspect is undoubtedly its casting. A special mention must be made of Juliano Krue Valdi, who plays the young Michael. With his exceptional energy, he does an excellent job of carrying the story's weaker first half on his shoulders. However, I cannot say the same for Jaafar Jackson, the artist's nephew, who plays the lead role. Critics and the vast majority of viewers cannot praise highly enough the fact that he spent exactly two years preparing for the role, as well as his command of the screen and immersion in the character. Although everyone considers this casting choice one of the best decisions of the year, I cannot share this general enthusiasm in the slightest. Personally, I think Jaafar was completely miscast. No matter how much he read his uncle's diaries or spent long periods of time in his room, he lacked genuine credibility for me and could not fully convey that unique Michael Jackson aura, that magical feeling, on screen.
6.2
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