Michael the movie: The People versus the Critics.

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]The 2026 Michael Jackson movie It has a pretty poor critic score on Rotten Tomatoes for some reason, but a very high audience rating. And it's a bit of a love letter to Jackson.

[00:00:19]It's a family-approved film, so it's not a warts-and-all. It doesn't cover the later part of any kind of accusations against him and things like that. It covers his rise. Perhaps that's why some of the critics kind of pooh-poohed it, cuz they wanted some kind of nastier version of the story. It's not a warts-and-all kind of biopic, but they often aren't. I mean, like Bob Dylan's wasn't a warts-and-all biopic. It was he's slightly flawed.

[00:00:51]It was very much on his side in these biopics. They generally are on the side of the subject.

[00:00:58]The director is Antoine uh Antoine Fuqua.

[00:01:02]This film demonstrates the art of visual storytelling, which is what film is.

[00:01:08]It doesn't have lots and lots of long-winded dialogue. It's got great music, obviously. The visuals are beautiful, and it tells a story visually and cinematically very, very well.

[00:01:24]Like I said, it doesn't go to the end of uh Michael Jackson's life. It cuts off before then.

[00:01:34]But I think it is very poignant for that. However, I would like to see a sequel by the same director.

[00:01:43]Do you know what I'm after?

[00:01:46]You want to be the biggest star in the world.

[00:01:49]So, this film was quite a long time in the making. It was they toured the world looking for the actor to play Michael Jackson.

[00:01:59]Obviously, he had to dance.

[00:02:01]He had to look a bit like him. He had to be able to sing.

[00:02:05]He had to have his energy and his vibe or be able to portray that.

[00:02:12]And uh they finally found him in Jaafar Jackson, who is Michael's nephew.

[00:02:22]>> [music] >> He was so extraordinary that if he doesn't get an Oscar for this, then there's no justice.

[00:02:29]This is a new actor. It's a first-time big role for this actor.

[00:02:34]Which is why they were uh hesitant, I suppose, to put him in a sort of multi-million dollar film like this, this mega blockbuster, what they hoped would be.

[00:02:45]And so they kept searching and searching, you know, they had found him, and they kind of knew they had found him, the right guy.

[00:02:53]But in the end they they realized what gold they had in Jaafar. And they they cast him. And he's extraordinary.

[00:03:03]He moves like Jackson. He sings like Jackson. He's got a lovely, soft quality, a very gentle quality.

[00:03:12]And he just brings uh Michael to life.

[00:03:15]He's so good. He needs to get an Oscar for this performance. He It was extraordinary.

[00:03:22]But the the boy who played the young Michael Jackson was amazing as well. He was so good. I mean, the first transition from the boy to the man, I was like, "Oh, no, I'm wanting to see more of the boy."

[00:03:35]But then it turned out that Jaafar as Jackson was so good.

[00:03:41]The actor who played Michael's domineering father, who wanted to kind of hitch his star to Michael's and get the whole family in the Michael wagon and keep Michael in the Jackson 5 rather than out doing his own thing.

[00:03:56]He was great. He was played by Colman Domingo.

[00:04:00]Y'all want to work in a steel mill like me for the rest of your days?

[00:04:04]No, sir. Yeah, cuz that's what has helped out.

[00:04:07]Y'all willing to fight for it?

[00:04:08]>> Yes, sir.

[00:04:10]I need to hear you a little louder.

[00:04:11]Y'all willing to fight for it?

[00:04:12]>> Yes, sir.

[00:04:15]He was so brilliant as a guy who was intimidating, but really kind of and looking out for himself, also the best of his family. He was kind of frightening, but not so frightening you could turn away from.

[00:04:28]You could also sympathize with him. So, he had the balance very, very well.

[00:04:35]I think this movie is a terrific achievement. And it's done It's done very well at the box office.

[00:04:42]Understandably.

[00:04:43]Uh Critics notwithstanding, audiences like it and they're going to see it and enjoying it because it's it's pretty good family entertainment.

[00:05:01]You're confident.

[00:05:04]The first part of his life and journey up to the peak of his success.

[00:05:09]And that's what it shows and uh and his talent.

[00:05:14]It shows that, too. And I think this film five out of five.

[00:05:20]For all involved, but especially for Jaafar Jackson who plays Michael.

[00:05:29]Magic.