Michael is a biopic that covers the formative years of Michael Jackson’s life from 1966 to 1988. Beginning with the creation of the Jackson 5 by his obsessive and driven father, Joe, the film traces the private and very public moments up until Michael’s appearance in London as part of the Bad Tour of 1988.
This is one very slick film that mixes family and career drama with incredibly choreographed on-stage performances. What we see is a carefully constructed sense of the singer trying to break free from the micromanagement of his father and challenging the norms of the music industry.
Michael’s own nephew Jaafar Jackson is tasked with playing the singer through much of the film and he does so superbly. The family resemblance is obvious and his ability to re-create Jackson’s moves and speaking voice is extraordinary.
Joe Jackson is the villain in the piece and incredibly well played by Coleman Domingo, who shows Joe’s intensity, violence and controlling nature. The film shows quite clearly that while Joe claims to put family first and wants the best, he is completely incapable of acknowledging Michael’s genius and tries to stifle it.
It thus feels as though the film is blaming Joe for the psychological and sometimes even physical problems that affected Michael throughout his life.
This film works well as basic musical biography that is set in a particular time period. It ends in 1988 when Jackson is at the top of his game. It doesn’t tackle the legal issues he faced later in his life and there are definite legal reasons for not doing so. The film also doesn’t feature his sister Janet as she didn’t wish to be represented in it, and this is a shame.
The film does have dark elements to it such as Joe’s violence, the beginnings of his obsession with plastic surgery, and the genesis of drug addiction after being burned during the filming of the infamous Pepsi ad.
There has been a lot of criticism of the film with claims that it whitewashes the abuse allegations and other things in his later life. But ultimately we can only take the film for what it presents and as a piece of art it stands on its own. Whatever the realities of the man behind the image, Michael Jackson was a genius and his music stands the test of time. If you are a fan, then this look at his early life will bring back fond memories.
MICHAEL
Starring: Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo, Nia Long, Miles Teller, Laura Harrier
Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
Duration: 127 minutes
In New Zealand cinemas 22 April 2026
