Movie Review: 'This is It' Explores Michael Jackson's Feel for Music and Dance
As shy and timid as he may have seemed during Q&A interviews, when it comes to performing, "This Is It" proved he is not remotely shy about speaking up about performances. And I respected every minute of it. There were times when Michael Jackson could feel what notes would rile the crowd up (ex. his "You got to let it simmer" moment during "The Way You Make Me Feel" with dancers hanging from buildings). His "I got to feel that" declaration during "Smooth Criminal" proved just how deep he was into the song. And the visual effects with eleven dancers turning into thousands of people behind him were hot.
"This Is It" also interviewed the dancers and back-up singers, and showcased the aerialists and pole dancers who were selected for the final tour after 10 years of silence. We meet musicians like Michael Bearden, the Musical Director, who works hard but is comfortable enough to make jokes with Michael Jackson about how he needed "a little more booty" in his music. Michael Jackson, who is very much about business during his rehearsals, stopped to laugh and say, "That's funny." Although it was just a joke in passing, it was cool to see that MJ could share a moment of laughter with his team while being so serious during his rehearsals.
If someone was in the audience during the "This Is It" film instead of watching the filmed rehearsals, the audience would see a performance happening everywhere-Michael Jackson, his back-up dancers, his singers and the film playing behind them. There was never a boring moment. The passion between Michael Jackson and background singer Judith Hill during "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"; the Jackson 5 tribute with the King of Pop as a young boy and his notorious afro and big, brown eyes; Niagara Falls thrashing around during "Earth Song"; the creepy acting and Halloween-style theme of "Thriller," the green screen performance where Michael Jackson runs from a gunfight at a nightclub during "Smooth Criminal" all made for great entertainment.
Even checking out Michael Jackson's crazy wardrobe was something to look forward to. Only MJ could get away with wearing a snug silver jacket, orange pants and a blue shirt one day and then show up on set another day rocking surprisingly baggy pants with printed bulldogs wearing crowns, a winter coat and a dress shirt longer than the jacket. His fashion sense always entertains me because it's so wrong, but somehow it always works for his unique flavor.
The spring 2009 footage showed him in several different outfits and looked like it was about five to seven different days of footage (judging from the outfits). And every day rehearsal got a little more creative-fire tricks, fireworks, Michael Jackson on a machine that would lead him high in the crowd, the bulldozer onstage, dead brides and grooms flapping around in the audience and dancers jumping several feet in the air when parts of the stage raised.
Songs that Michael Jackson fans could look forward to during the stage theatrics were "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Jam," "Bad," "They Don't Care About Us," "Human Nature," "Smooth Criminal," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "I Want You Back," "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Thriller," "Beat It," "Black or White," "Earth Song," "Billie Jean," "Man in the Mirror" and the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There."
I heard several people in the audience quietly singing along, and even though Michael Jackson was trying to conserve his voice, even he had to reprimand himself for getting caught in the moment during "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Hill singing right along with him. Michael Jackson encouraged his team during a final practice that "Love lives forever" and told his team to love one another, spread the love, take care of the environment and MJ declared they were a family. The movie ended with a familial bond and song.
The one thing that could've made "This Is It" even better was to be able to see full performances by the dancers and musicians paying tribute to him. This movie gets 4 out of 5 stars only because I didn't get to see that or hear Michael Jackson really snap during his singing, but as he said about preserving his voice, "That's what rehearsal is for."
Published by Shamontiel
Shamontiel is the author of "Round Trip" and "Change for a Twenty," and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune's Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, a... View profile
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- The footage for "This Is It" was filmed during the spring of 2009.
9 Comments
Post a CommentAlyce, feel free to check out my experience going to see "This Is It" on Tuesday night: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/message-from-montie/2009/10/chicagos-the-new-400-theater-releases-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-but-crowd-numbers-are-mediocre.html
Alyce, I had to delete my last comment because I thought you were talking about Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story." I kept staring at the title of this article like she cannot be telling me she didn't hear anything about MJ's film. Whoa, now that's crazy because it's being heavily promoted here. Although the movie theater I went to did not have a crowd, everybody I know was scheduling seeing this movie in. The movie is only out for two weeks. It started Tuesday night (Oct. 27) at 11 p.m. and will be at the show for one more week. Check around.
no did not see the movie, did not hear about it until I saw your article, I keep checking old issues out of library to read about Michael, tho' nothing new said, love the photographs, he was definitely one of the greatest entertainers, perhaps the best of all
Jo (Hawaii), second to God? Whoa, you are quite the fan. I don't know if I would go that far but I do think Michael Jackson was quite the entertainer, animal lover, Earth lover and people lover. I got a copy of his book "Moonwalk" today, and I'm looking forward to reading it.
I wish MJ was alive-He was greatest entertainer of all...He is second to God. Love HIM and will Truly miss him. Thank you, Kenny and to everyone would put this movie together. Thank you for giving all of Michael's fans the opportunity to see him again performing. This Is It concert would have been the greatest ever. Love you Michael. RIP - you are with our Lord.
They talked about being selected to dance with Michael - I wonder how they felt. This is so sad. I left the show and went to the ladies room and guess what song was playing "I'll be there" and I started tearing up again - yes again. I have been listening to the "This is It" cd all day. Its playing in the background. The song"This is it" is so warm and so Michael. I want to say thanks to the individual that put this together - for giving us the opportunity to see Michael one last time.
I enjoyed the movie so much. I felt like a kid enjoying Michael like I did for the first time I was at a Jackson 5 concert. I do not know why I never went to a Michael Jackson concert but I went to at least two or three Jackson 5 concerts to I enjoyed the movie so much. I felt like a kid enjoying Michael like I did for the first time I was at a Jackson 5 concert. I do not know why I never went to a Michael Jackson concert but I went to at least two or three Jackson 5 concerts to see my husband Michael. Maybe it was because he left the states for a while. But I bet you that I have all of his albums and cds. Every move he made was fantastic Michael. He is such a perfectionist. His voice was great - okay he didn't hit any high notes. "That what rehearsals are for" and he need's to save that voice for this many fans. I loved everything. Every move - every change - every word - Yes it would have been nice to see what his dancers and other crew members would have said about him.
Thanks for the compliments, Robert Lee Alford and Sheryl Jester. Have you seen the film? If so, what was it like in your area? On ChicagoNow.com, I was surprised to see the small crowd turnout: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/message-from-montie/2009/10/chicagos-the-new-400-theater-releases-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-but-crowd-numbers-are-mediocre.html
Nice professional review, well done!