Michael. One name is all it takes. Is anyone in any doubt that Michael is Michael Jackson the legend? The title alone tells us this film promises to be an intimate large-scale telling of Michael Jackson’s life, music and legacy. Jaafar Jackson is the singer’s real-life nephew, playing the role of his uncle, and there can surely be no greater seal of authenticity.
You can see Michael at Cineworld from 22nd April, releasing in all special formats.
For mega fans still grieving the superstar, seeing this film is going to be emotional. But at the same time, they’ll be bursting with pride and joy at his music and story.
In Michael, we see the star as a young child, performing with the Jackson 5, through to his teenage years, when the family quintet became superstars. The film then moves through the pop sensation’s timeline as a young adult navigating his early solo career, celebrating his life through era-defining hits from Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough to Bad.
These are not just rock and pop hits, they’re milestones in musical and cultural history. So, let’s get excited all again and run through the set list… Who are we kidding. You already know the film’s set list and can sing every lyric. Let’s speculate about which of our favourites will have us bopping in our cinema seats.
"Never Can Say Goodbye"
He may have only been 12 years old at the time it was released but this song shows the extent of Michael’s emotional range, even as a child. The first of Jackson 5’s move into grown-up tunes, you could see and hear that Michael was destined for greater things. This is him pre-fame, singing in more innocent times. "Never Can Say Goodbye" is purely about feeling. We haven’t yet got to the elaborate dance sequences, music videos or public persona that Jackson went on to craft over the decades.
"Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough"
Even the shyest Cineworlders will feel like shoulder-shimmying in their seats when we get to this tune. It’s finger-clicking good. "Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough" is the moment Michael’s solo career kicked off. His first number one, the Grammy Award-winning tune was where we heard the trademark falsetto intro for the first time. This is Michael as sophisticated hits-maker and beats innovator. Aged 20, the ex-child star is growing into his role of pop star. He even wrote and co-produced the song himself.
"Beat It"
Tell us your toes aren’t tapping just reading that song title. The line “show them how funky and strong is your fight” is guaranteed to get your hips swaying. You’ll feel the beat in your seat because this tune IS rhythm. One of the best-selling singles of the 1980s, "Beat It" smashed down the boundaries between pop, rock and R&B, and crossed genres to gain legions more fans than Jackson had before. Beat It showed Jackson at one of the boldest points in his career.
"Thriller"
Less a music video and more film short, the Thriller video has gone down in pop history as the most famous music video of all time. Michael Jackson’s mini movie showcased a song that had an enormous cultural impact – "Thriller" was the best-selling album in musical history. Seeing this phenomenal moment brought to life in Michael will be a spectacle to behold. It’s surely the biggest thrill of the film.
"Billie Jean"
"Billie Jean" still gets billions of streams in modern times, and some say this best-selling song is his signature song. The tune coincided with the moonwalk. Out of all the peaks in Jackson’s career, the moonwalk is forever imprinted in our imaginations. Question is, are you going to be able to stay in your seat or will you be moonwalking up the aisle?
"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’"
"Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’" opened Jackson’s live shows, it’s the beat that taps into our souls and dials up anticipation to fever pitch. Across the ages, it never fails as a floor filler and it’s one of his most sampled songs. Are you still chair dancing? By the time you get to this point in the film, sitting down may no longer be an option.
"Bad"
"Bad" was era-defining. Michael Jackson tore up the pop rulebook (again) with the song’s punchy lyrics and hypnotic rhythm. Newly assertive, he reveals a side we hadn’t seen before. He’s gritty and expressive and we love it. His look is sharp and he moves with swagger in a music video (or 18-minute film short) directed by Martin Scorsese, no less.
Now that we’ve started something, book tickets for Michael, released on 22nd April. Fedoras and white gloves at the ready – make sure you don’t stop til you get enough.
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