In 2018, the hit biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” started a trend of musical biopics that has since included films about Elton John, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and now Michael Jackson.
Even though there were successful biopics in the past, “Bohemian Rhapsody” set the bar for what a great biopic should be. There haven’t been many to follow that were on par.
Initial Thoughts:
To start, the film has an outstanding cast, and Jaafar Jackson truly embodies his uncle: from the voice to the looks, to the movements, Jaafar WAS Michael Jackson. Coleman Domingo as Joseph Jackson was outstanding, and the entire ensemble was incredible. I even enjoyed Mike Myers’ cameo, where he plays the man who put Michael Jackson on MTV, redeeming him from his role of the man who lost Queen.
The Film’s Flaws:
There are a lot of time jumps. It feels as if you miss out on those family moments that really drive them apart. The beginning of the film is too fast, and it feels like there’s an empty space not being filled.
The climax, the Pepsi victory tour, while inspiring moments, doesn’t feel enough and almost feels anti-climactic.
Emmanuel Castillo, movie theater attendant and film lover, said, “I felt like I wanted more … They left out several things, but the overall movie was pretty good for what they put in.”
Ultimately, Castillo enjoyed it, saying, “It had me feeling like I needed to dance.”
While the tension’s there with Joseph Jackson, I really wanted more from other aspects of his life. There’s not much conflict that builds into the climax. The choice not to include disagreements with Quincy Jones was a mistake. That moment when he separated himself from his father in Dodger Stadium would’ve had an even bigger impact than it did.
It ends with a title card that says “HIS STORY CONTINUES”, signifying that yes, there’s still so much they did NOT cover, but also hints at the possibility of a sequel. I believe the sequel should have been the first film. His rise, while great, wasn’t interesting enough to warrant a film.
Jaxen Minick, a fellow theater goer, agreed, saying, “The film felt like a glorified soundtrack and that the film relied too much on the music, while his second half of life had the more interesting story I would’ve preferred to see.”
What was Good:
That being said, there are many great parts to the film, including my favorite scene, when Michael used his music to bring people together in the height of the Bloods and Crips forming. The song used was “Beat It,” and the whole sequence of him using the gangs as dancers and bringing them together was beautiful.
The scenes in the film are also beautifully shot and fully immersive. There was clearly so much talent on and off the screen.
Overall Thoughts:
In the end, the film is still truly enjoyable. While it has its flaws like many movies, this is still one of the better biopics. If Jaafar Jackson woke up tomorrow and said he was going to carry on Michael’s legacy and tour, I wouldn’t be upset one bit because his performance was that great.
Critics are rating it too low, and audiences are rating it too high. Out of 10, the film is a solid 7.2.
If you don’t want to take my word for it, go out and see it because no matter what, MJ is the king of pop and always puts on a phenomenal show.
