Michael Jackson announced that he was going to do one last tour. Sadly he never got that far. The "This Is It" tour had just finished prepping when the King of Pop died. This documentary was culled from behind-the-scenes footage of the rehearsals. The film provides a compelling look at a dedicated performer working out his latest, and unexpectedly last, spectacle.
So what does the film say about Michael Jackson? He was a perfectionist, who was the artistic drive behind the epic show. He would rerun parts over and over until they were just right. While doing it, he comes off as patient and grateful of the people working with him. And in turn they seem happy to be working with and learning from him. But first and foremost, he is presented as an amazing performer. He knows music and what he wants. And he can certainly dance, keeping up with the back-up dancers that are half his age. If this is a 50-year-old drug addict, he's on some amazing stuff.
Now to be fair, I doubted I'd see anything different. This film is intended to be a tribute to the man, not a hatchet job. But there was certainly enough footage to give this positive impression. They're not stretching. Many of the sequences were long takes, so nothing is being edited. For the most part, this is the raw Michael Jackson.
The production value that was going into the show is also impressive. New elaborate videos had been produced to play on giant screens. One recreated his classic "Thriller" zombie dance with modern vfx. Interactive elements were planned to engage the audiences as ghosts flew over their heads. Another transports Michael into a classic noir with Humphrey Bogart. These sequences put on display the theatrical inclination the singer had. He certainly knew how to put on a show.
When it's all said and done, the film has a sad cloud hanging over it. The footage doesn't seem like it was really meant for a feature length concert doc, but footage taken for the intention of editing it into a five-minute promo. This carries home the notion of what was lost. This would have been a great tour. This would have been a comeback for Michael. But this rough around the edges doc is all we get. It's not really enough, but it's still a reminder of, outside of all the controversies, what really made Michael Jackson an icon.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
