Editorial
Front Page - Friday, November 13, 2009
The Critic's Corner
David Laprad
I’m going to begin my review of the film, “This Is It,” with a disclaimer. You’ll understand why in a moment:
When it comes to Michael Jackson, I’m neither a fan nor a detractor. I don’t count myself among those who adored the ground on which he moonwalked, nor did his quirky behavior put me off, nor do I revile him for his alleged sexual abuse of adolescents. My ambivalence has nothing to do with him; I simply don’t listen to pop music and I’m skeptical when the media portrays a famous person in a bad light.
I say these things because I want you to know my reaction to “This Is It” has no basis in doe-eyed celebrity worship.
With that out of the way, allow me to suggest “This Is It” is not only a tribute to a brilliant singer, songwriter and performer, but a profound, moving experience that could change the way you look at Jackson.
Sure, the movie, which director Kenny Ortega cobbled together from informal video shot during concert rehearsals in Los Angeles, is a quick cash-in on Jackson’s sudden death in June. People are still in shock over what happened as Jackson was preparing to step back into the limelight after years of seclusion and perform in a series of knockout concerts, creating an opportunity to exploit their grief, curiosity or even desire to see him alive. But unlike most cash-ins, “This Is It” has substance.
Think back to the accounts of Jackson’s death, the footage from a few years ago of him wobbling into court in pajamas, the before and after photos of his cosmetic surgeries and all the stories about his ostensibly strange behavior, and you come up with a less than flattering picture.
But that’s not the image “This Is It” presents. Rather, you see an energetic and inspired artist putting dozens of dancers, singers, musicians and technicians through their paces as they prepare to pull off what would have been one heck of a show.
You see Jackson performing tightly controlled, yet remarkably fluid, dance moves, his feet defying the laws of friction as they glide over the stage, his arms and legs snapping out and then folding back in, his body as pliable as rubber. His fans will enjoy seeing him performing signature routines from the music videos for “Thriller” and “Bad” with the same energy as his younger self.
You hear Jackson singing many of his hits without a hint of his voice growing old or weak. While doing a duet of “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” with a female singer, he does hold back and then joke about having to save his voice for the concerts.
You also see Jackson in control of every aspect of the production, from how the musicians should play certain rifts, to when the band should play particular sound cues, to where the lights should point and when they should come on.
And through it all, you never hear Jackson raise his voice, berate someone, storm off stage or demand to be treated with respect. (Judging from the gushing looks of his dancers as he stands with them in a small circle and shows them how to perform certain moves, he already had that.) Rather, you see him graciously and humbly, but also firmly, letting everyone know what he sees and hears in his head.
In one scene, Jackson wants his keyboardist to hit a certain stride at the beginning of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” The musician tries and tries, but doesn’t understand what Jackson wants. Instead of expressing frustration and outrage, Jackson finally smiles, says, “We’ll get it right,” and moves on.
In scene after scene, his energy is astonishing and his manner is unwaveringly polite. “It’s all about love. God bless you,” he says on more than one occasion after correcting someone. I suppose Ortega was selective when choosing footage, but that doesn’t detract from the authenticity of what ended up in the film.
What you don’t see in “This Is It” is footage of Jackson during the down time between rehearsals and production meetings. The movie is about remembering him as a performer.
As I watched, I felt sad, not just about Jackson’s death but also about the things he endured. Was he guilty of the crimes of which he was accused? We’ll never know, but as you sit in a theater and watch Jackson rehearse song after song, you’ll wonder how someone who created such life affirming music came to be known as a monster.
Once you get past bubble gum pop, much of today’s youth-oriented music seems cynical and nihilistic. In the time since Jackson was at the height of his popularity, this generation seems to have forgotten what it’s like to look at the world through a child’s eyes. “This Is It” made me long for that sense of innocence and wonder.
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