Ian Halperin Offers a Balanced Look at Michael Jackson in "Gone Too Soon"

King of Pop's Biographer Says His Upcoming Film is Fair and Objective

Ron Hart
Michael Jackson's biographer Ian Halperin is releasing a documentary on the King of Pop on the first anniversary of his death.

On June 25th, 2010, one year to the day from Jackson's shocking passing, Halperin's documentary, entitled Gone Too Soon will be released. The film is expected to be based largely on the book released last year by Halperin on Jackson titled "Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson".

Gone Too Soon features unseen recordings of Jackson and many interviews with those in his inner circle, though none of his family are in the film.

No artist, alive or dead, has the kind of following that Michael Jackson does. Halperin has had a bit of a mixed reputation with Jackson's fans as he has published some less than flattering things about Jackson, and eerily predicted his death with almost exact timing six months prior to it.

Most significantly, however, is the fact that Halperin has admitted that he set out to write about book about the child molestation charges against Jackson and that at the outset, he was confident that he would find all of the evidence he needed to write about Jackson guilt.

The more that Halperin researched the case, however, the more he doubted that Jackson was guilty at all. To his credit, he eventually announced to the world that he was in fact wrong and that Michael Jackson, based on everything he was able to uncover, and was actually the victim of people around him taking advantage of his eccentric public reputation.

Halperin's book, and presumably his documentary, are not a fawning tribute to Jackson. There are salacious aspects to Michael Jackson that he claims that may not sit well with Jackson's fans and family.

Overall, though, Halperin promises a balanced look at Jackson, saying that Gone Too Soon is "a balanced tribute to the King of Pop ... This is the film Michael and his fans deserve."

If the movie is as balanced as Halperin says it is, and many will believe he deserves the benefit of the doubt after admitting he was wrong initially about Jackson, then the movie will be the latest in a series of events occurring after Jackson's death that seem to avenge his legacy and reputation.

Since Jackson's passing, he has been honored at the Grammy Awards, his landmark video Thriller has been included into the National Film Archives, and image conscious Disney has reopened the Captain Emo attraction that it once closed after the initial allegations against him.

While his fans surely wish that Jackson were alive to see how swiftly and dramatically opinion has changed in favor of him, the history books appear to be treating Michael Jackson increasingly well; Gone Too Soon may be the latest contributing evidence of that.

Source: Gil Kaufman, "Michael Jackson Biographer Releasing Movie About Pop Star's Final Days", mtv.com

Published by Ron Hart

Ron Hart lives in New York. His interests are varied and include sports, politics and great Big Apple restaurants. He is a big baseball fan and enjoys discussing, debating and watching sports. He also enj...   View profile

15 Comments

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  • Moi 7/1/2010

    Ian Halperin is a tabloid hack whose only claim to fame was the he "predicted" that Michael Jackson would be dead in 2009 (from some random disease that MJ most certainly did not have, but Halperin likes to gloss over that part). Otherwise, his book would be another sensationalized piece of gossip, with ludicrous claims that no one can back up.

    That said . . . J. Randy Taraborrelli is NOT Michael Jackson's authorized biographer. And he certainly WAS NOT his friend for 40 years -- Taraborelli likes to claim that, but in reality, he's just a 2-bit reporter who got lucky and interviews Michael and the rest of the Jackson 5 a handful of times in the '70s. The connection ends there.

  • KitaKaT 4/22/2010

    Balanced... yeah, thats how I would describe such ish! When have you ever know of 99.9% of anything published about Michael Jackson being fair and balanced. Go crawl back under your rock, this is no different than the last trail of slim the media keeps dishing!

  • Sharon 3/25/2010

    I'm interested to see what Halperin has to say about the circumstances of MJ's death. I look forward to this documentary. It will be good to see MJ on the bigscreen again.

  • Seppie 3/21/2010

    Ian Halperin is one hell of a vilthy lier. He was not MJ's biographer at all. I think he is portraiting his own sick mind in this film (and everything else he made is dirt too)
    He starts in an intervieuw about it, by asking for the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that he now truely believes MJ was innocent an not a molester at all. After that every other big lie that MJ had to fight against is brought up, only now he sais more vilthy stuff around it. So once you pay to see the movie or read the buy the book, he gets your money. No matter what you think of it, he just wants the money. He does not care of truth.
    Even if somebody would not like MJ, even then it is disgusting the way Halperin reports his own sick creations of his sick mind.
    Really a big disgrace for the already not so trusted tabloids and media attitude. I Feel sorry for the growing loss of quality of info in the media and tabloids. Mostly I feel sorry for MJ who is still being attacked, MJ's children, family, and fa

  • Dana 3/21/2010

    Halperin never was Michael`s biographer. Randy Taraborrelli , Michael`s friend for 40 years, was the authorized biographer. Halperin is the same tabloid writer that wrote an UNAUTHORIZED biography of Michael . This is the same guy who said that President Ronald Regan gave Michael a sperm donation just because he went to the White House and received an award! That has to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard!!! He is a liar!
    I hope people will remember what Michael once said- "if you don't hear it from my own mouth, please don't believe it".
    Don't waste your time on anything this guy dose when it comes to Michael!

  • dimple 3/20/2010

    any true fan will not waste their money buying or watching anything by Harplin! Hes a tabloid writer.

  • Dawn 3/19/2010

    I hope no true fan of Michael supports this trash, I didn't buy his trashy book that was full of lie and I won't be seeing this movie either, in fact I hope the Jackson Family sues his lying behind!!!

  • Raven 3/19/2010

    I think that anyone in their right mind should NOT see that movie! Ian Halperin is only trying to get money for himself! I highly doubt that he has even met Michael so how can he have all this "secret" stuff...he doesnt! Its all a bunch of things hes thrown togther to make a headline. "This Is It" is the only Michael Jackson movie worth seeing, considering it shows Michael himself just months, before he died. Anything Ian puts in this moive is just not credible. He bashed MJ when he was alive to get money and now hes pretending to "honor" him so all MJs fans can give him their money! Its not gonna happen! I didnt buy his piece of trash book "Unmasked" and im not seeing his stupid film! Michael wouldnt want a LIAR gaining attention like this.

  • luci 3/19/2010

    Ian Halperin made a good gues when it come to Michael Dying because he did not die from natural caurses but by a reckless doctor who just saw $$$$. A lot in the book like the trial which is true can be found if you do your own research. But comeing up the the last couple ofyears of MJ life he is speculating and have no proof.

  • caf 3/19/2010

    There will be nothing balanced about this. He slandered Michael while alive and will do it again now in death. I hope people don't see this film. I agree, we already have the film we need.
    MJ deserves so much better from the media. Will this film claim that Michael trolled the alleys of Vegas while dressed as a woman like Halperin said? What if he kids were to see that?If Halperin wants to honor Michael, then do a film about the millions given to charity, the thousands of trips to orphanages, etc. What current star does anything like that? None. Halperin is just cashing in. Go away.
    Leave Michael and his kids alone.

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