https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/04/michaelm-i-unwraps-the-smear/>Michael Jackson haters don’t get to control the narrative in Michael, an adulatory biopic by action-movie hack Antoine Fuqua, who directed Denzel Washington in his notorious Oscar-winning role as the world’s worst, most evil black cop, in Training Day. The irony that a purveyor of violent trash with an ethnic spin should do a tribute to MJ is almost mind-boggling. It’s the ultimate example of hackery that Fuqua should helm a project about a nonviolent musical artist, especially well known to the public and beloved for pacifistic reasons, that challenges Hollywood’s standard racial stereotypes.>Fuqua’s name in the credits gives Michael superficial ethnic authentication, which indicates the film’s purpose as a political project, done with approval from some members of the Jackson family, to revive and redeem MJ’s legend that was tarnished by scandal — part of the media-motivated take-down that has become a standard of our polarized culture’s tabloid journalism. As a genre-practitioner in the Ridley Scott mode, Fuqua embarks on the biopic genre with a single-minded dedication implied by the film’s title — this narrative is both an identity and an endearment.
>Michael follows the fame path of a talented black American kid who emerged from a working-class family, going from bubble-gum pop to songs about romantic yearning, songs creating an innocent pop-idol image, to songs reflecting isolation after showbiz success. MJ’s adult music addressed a frantic awareness of the recording industry and social problems — from being a legendary Motown artist to an independent, major-label solo creator — and then reflected his own private turmoil and disenchantment in a series of phenomenal late-career albums (a topic I explored in the “Scream” chapters of Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles).>The biography itself reinforces what’s known of Jackson’s talent, his unique charisma and artistry, sufficient to satisfy fans. No mere actor can portray this drama; real-life MJ nephew Jaafar Jackson (son of Jackson Five sibling Jermaine Jackson) performs the role with moments that offer an uncanny simulacra. Michael satisfies the unvanquished admiration inherent to a pop star who must also be recognized as a mass folk hero.
>>220038028the king never misses
>Anyone who is conflicted about “separating the art from the artist” is ignorant of art and has never had a significant art experience — certainly nothing comparable to the delight MJ brought to the world from “I Want You Back,” “Ben,” “Off the Wall,” “Billie Jean,” Thriller, “Bad,” “Black or White,” “You Are Not Alone,” “They Don’t Care About Us,” to “Blood on the Dance Floor.” Those unfortunates, who pretend moral or political supremacy over human nature, should simply stop pretending to engage with any form of art — even the biopic. MJ-phobia avoids the most significant challenge: Michael’s audacity to claim his place in America’s Astaire-Kelly–James Brown tradition.>Fuqua submits to the legend told in Michael, written by industry hand John Logan, whose work on Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday, Scorsese’s The Aviator and Hugo, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator and Alien: Covenant, Sam Mendes’s two James Bond films Skyfall and Spectre, and Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd adaptation suggests that both personal detachment and professionalism are involved in this Hollywood production. Skeptics who are obsessed with MJ’s various scandals might consider this film politically.>Michael Jackson’s tabloid scandals (a prevailing subject of his later work) can be best understood through the annals of political strategy as described in Nancy Pelosi’s infamous 2017 “wrap-up smear” speech that outlined the tactic of smearing someone’s character, getting the smear reported/repeated in the press (“merchandise” it), and then using media pressure to amplify and validate it (“wrap-up smear”). The Michael biopic counters the diversionary media tactics that attempted to ruin the artist’s King of Pop standing. The haters have not won; recall those acknowledgments of “Billie Jean” that enhance the humanizing revisionist documentary Melania.
>Within the perimeters of biopic artifice, some famous actors enacting real-life people participate in an image rehabilitation that pays tribute to the main subject. Larenz Tate plays Motown founder Berry Gordy, Mike Meyers plays CBS Records magnate Walter Yetnikoff, and Nia Long plays Michael’s mother, Katherine. But Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson can’t match Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs’s moving portrayal in the TV movie The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992), about the agon of the former steelworker father who was responsible for driving and disciplining his brood through the demands of the entertainment business.<Fuqua and Logan supply familiar iconography: MJ’s always childlike, soft speaking voice, his quicksilver stage moves, music-video high spots, glittery spats, and adoring crowds. It flashes by like one of those Pepsi commercials. Though not equal to Kenny Ortega’s 2009 semi-doc extravaganza This Is It (a pop memorial featuring the real thing), Michael survives its own exploitation as a political ad aimed at conserving pop-music artistry that’s always up against the schemes of dullards and authoritarians.
>>220038028We love our king here. Glory to him!
>>220038028Yes, yes. We know that Almond Peanut worships thee ground Jackson, Bryant, Kelly, et. al walk on on account of him being a nigger. Having come into possession of a thesaurus via theft or begging notwithstanding.
>>220038071>Those unfortunates, who pretend moral or political supremacy over human nature, should simply stop pretending to engage with any form of art
>>220038098>Anyone who is conflicted about “separating the art from the artist” is ignorant of art and has never had a significant art experiencelong live the king!
I might be retarded but after reading 1ll this i still can't tell if he liked the movie or not?
>>220039536He liked the movie only thing he'll change is more childhood trauma and dancing and less of the boring family drama in his adult life. I'm not sure what he meant by that but I agree the movie needed more singing and dancing.
>>220038071>Those unfortunates, who pretend moral or political supremacy over human nature, should simply stop pretending to engage with any form of art — even the biopic.This is why he's the king of /tv/
>>220038071>>220038901>Anyone who is conflicted about “separating the art from the artist” is ignorant of art and has never had a significant art experiencethis should be the motto of /tv/ !
Does the movie include Jackson’s dad being abusive
haha what mad kike wrote this garbage? somebody should put a rotten fish in his mattress and egg his car
>>220039745What I thought was missing the most in this movie is actual scenes of him and all the legendary people he worked with making the music he's so famous for. Jumping straight to making the choreography for the Beat It video without showing Van Halen et all in studio? Wtf was that decision? Having someone play Quincy Jones only to have him pushing buttons in 3 studio scenes without showing any of his actual involvement in making some of the greatest MJ songs.I get where you're coming from with wanting more singing and dancing, but by the third moonwalk move, I was getting bored.Also can we talk about the editing? Same faggot that did Bohemian Rapsody. That shit was egregious.
>>220039814Yes. The main conflict of the movie is how Michael can't say no to his father, besides all the abuse (we actually see Michael getting some belt whooping).Five minutes before movie ends, Michael says that he won't tour with the Jacksons anymore.
>>220039924Do you think the average movie-going pleb knows or cares who Quincy Jones is? Or anything about music production? All they know is "Oh, Michael Jackson. I recognise him." Movies like this are made for morons, not enthusiasts.
>>220038071>The haters have not won; recall those acknowledgments of “Billie Jean” that enhance the humanizing revisionist documentary Melania.what did he mean by that? genuinely asking, I'm too esl for that
>>220040076Sadly I know. I thought the movie was vapid and soulless, but somehow my theater was packed and people clapped at the end. I don't get what was so exceptional about this movie, other that watching a few bits of Michael singing and dancing. Even if shot poorly, I guess that's all people wanted from a Michael Jackson biopic.I prefer rewatching his videoclips and performances than ever rewatching this movie.
In my world, Lee Daniels would have directed it
>>220039924>actual scenes of him and all the legendary people he worked with making the music he's so famous for. Yeah. They should've dedicated more time on his rehearsal method, collaborations and bts anecdotes.
>>220040166>I guess that's all people wanted from a Michael Jackson biopic.It is. Literally. For reasons yet unstudied, plebs are utterly enraptured by recreations of things and events they have already seen. They will eagerly pay full ticket price to watch a hackneyed modern recreation of Thriller with an actor portraying Jackson, instead of just watching the genuine article on YouTube for free. It's bizarre.
>>220040166When nearly every piece of media involving Micheal Jackson is a hit piece, positive digestions stands out like a shining diamond.
Mr. White, I…
>literal gay nigger defends another literal gay pedo niggerWho would've guessed.
>>220038071>Anyone who is conflicted about “separating the art from the artist” is ignorant of art and has never had a significant art experienceTrue, if I were unable to do that, there would be very few Hollywood movies I would be able to watch.
