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Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)

Director: Kenny Ortega

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37 reviews

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From Time Out London

Just as the 2007 documentary on the Apollo moon landings ‘In the Shadow of the Moon’ struck a blow against all the crackpot theorists who thought Buzz, Neil and the other guy were actually doing their floaty moonwalk thing in a disused seed barn in Delaware, posthumous concert film ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ will come as a revelation to all those expecting to see the self-spun ‘King of Pop’ as a spindly, lethargic fantasist whose performing stamina was generated from the noxious vapours of whatever prescription pain killers he happened to have been mainlining at the time.

Undoubtedly – and unashamedly, perhaps – the film is cash-in propaganda of Riefenstahlian proportions... but to be honest, it’s all the more riveting and emotionally rewarding for it. Here we have a no-frills eulogy for Jackson the performer and artist - with all the reams of dodgy courtroom footage, the ruinous tabloid splashes and any enquiry into his dubious private life kept at arm’s length, perhaps being saved for a different, more damning portrait of one of the world's most enigmatic celebrities.

Indeed, it’s a film that’s been methodically purged of any ill feeling and negativity: the fact that he died isn’t even mentioned, which gives you some idea of just how desperate the makers of the film are to transport you to Jackson’s gooey-eyed Neverland where nothing bad ever happens. Yet, they do somehow succeed, and that helps the audience maintain its focus on the rousing and pleasingly stripped-back renditions of tracks plucked from Jackson’s venerable back catalogue.

All the classics are here, and not only are we able to see intimate footage of Jackson rehearsing but we also get a preview of the bespoke films and stunts that were set to accompany each song. ‘Thriller’ is backed by a 3D graveyard scene with various heavily made-up ghouls dancing from their tombs. ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ opens on a huge backdrop of workers descending from a scaffold at daybreak and is accompanied by a languid, Gershwin-esque prelude with which Jackson tries to emulate ‘the sound of getting out of bed’. He’s even spliced into a bullet-time-enhanced Humphrey Bogart movie for the introduction to ‘Smooth Criminal’.

Beyond the music, though, there is interest to be had from the between-song footage of Jackson conversing with his many adoring collaborators. When complaining that his earpiece is too loud, he descends into a kind of infantile gibberish where he dances around the issue with bizarre abstracts (‘I’m being punched in the ear!’) and the crew all duly respond to his mithering in the sickeningly fawning tone that might be offered to a puppy with a thorn in its paw. It’s patently obvious that Jackson had surrounded himself with a cadre of slathering yes-men, which helps you understand why he might have been trapped (perhaps willingly?) in a state of arrested development.

But this is a concert film, and, as such, it’s utterly engaging from beginning to end. Of course, there are those who believe that this 50-date concert engagement was one big insurance scam, and that Jackson faked his own death so he could sup mai tais on a private beach in the Cayman Islands while counting the money as it rolled in like the waves. The unquestionable amount of love and craftsmanship that went into this performance puts that theory into heavy disrepute. For sheer what-could-have-been tragedy, this is one to file next to the Elvis’s ‘’68 Comeback Special’.

Author: David Jenkins 2009-10-28 12:04:21

Time Out London Issue 2045, Oct 29 – Nov 4 2009

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User reviews of this film

saif said...

Posted on Nov 23 2009 00:07 Are you film reviewers or c**nts?????

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thierryhenri said...

Posted on Nov 20 2009 20:41 you enjoy all along the film

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ripluvyamichael said...

Posted on Nov 18 2009 00:47 im just so glad i went too see the film as its brilliant infact id go so far as to say i enjoyed it better than 8mile and i saw that 3 times. everyone should see it. michael i love n miss ya xx

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keith said...

Posted on Nov 17 2009 23:32 It's not often you get the opportunity to spend two hours watching a genius at work - this is not to be missed. On the evidence of the movie, had the concerts have gone ahead, this would for a time have been the greatest show on earth, truly spectacular in terms of ambition & creativity. Such a shame for those who were waiting to go see it, but also for the performers who were due to take part, as this would have no doubt been a career highlight for most of the people involved. The album is definitely going on my Christmas list for this year!

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Jeff said...

Posted on Nov 17 2009 17:45 A truly wonderful film. I have never been especially keen of MJ but I am so glad I saw this. What a pity his untimely end did not allow this show to hit the road.

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glennis mayhew said...

Posted on Nov 13 2009 13:38 i thought it was brilliant if the show had happened it would have been tremendous, i even took my g/sons to seeit as well they thougt it was brill to.

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Joy Anderson said...

Posted on Nov 12 2009 03:54 If you haven't seen this film, then MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS ‘THIS IS IT!!!! ‘ As you will have missed history in the making. These rehearsals were just so amazing; it was hard to believe they were only rehearsals. This film demonstrated a genius at work in a way perhaps we have never seen before. The choreography was ‘laser’ tight and Michael Jackson’s timing was as slick and sharp as ever, despite being 50 years young. Had the show gone ahead, it would have been one of the greatest live shows of all times as Michael Jackson hadn’t lost anything in his quality of performance since the 80’s
One couldn’t help but be in awe and wonderment of Michael Jackson’s talent and demand for perfection. Not only that, but his depth of vision and focus demonstrated a genius in motion. Michael Jackson displayed integrity and compassion throughout the rehearsals, and never seemed phased by the enormous pressure he was under. The film revealed Michael Jackson’s deeper qualities, many of which people might not be aware of because of his ‘distorted public image’. He was surprisingly assertive, and commands huge respect from the people he works with. In spite of being an artist of such high calibre, he was very humble and kind throughout.
This man is full of love and the world will never quite be the same without him. If you have any preconceived ideas about who Michael Jackson is, then I urge you to go and see this film, and start to dispel this myth about ‘Whacko Jacko.’ This man is a seriously multi-talented artist and deserves to go down in history as one of the greatest artists and performers of our times, and definitely lives up to his title ‘King of Pop’

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zara said...

Posted on Nov 11 2009 19:25 I love Michael Jackson with all my heart!
I cried a river when i went to watch it.
It's sad when you loose someone you care about the most, it's just life i suppose?

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james said...

Posted on Nov 11 2009 12:47 comparing mj to elvis is like comparing a dust sheet to a fine silk sheet, im only going because i fancy the girl who wants to take me...get real people.

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Janey said...

Posted on Nov 10 2009 17:00 Absolutely brilliant! A fantastic documentary of a musical genius at work without sentimentality. Don't miss it whatever you do!

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shaun said...

Posted on Nov 07 2009 23:21 David Jenkins cynical review is rubbish.
If you've ever enjoyed any of MJ's music over the past thirty years then do'nt miss this film on the big screen.
This superbly crafted film is a fitting tribute to arguably the best pop artist we will ever see.
The dancers and musicians are brilliant to.
He did'nt surround himself with yes men. It's just they felt privileged to work with him and he knew how to get the best out of everyone .

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ED said...

Posted on Nov 07 2009 12:46 Despite some of the jealous notes below, go see the movie of a lifetime. Its a must see. For anyone with a care for the future of the planet, with a heart for great ballads, if you are alive with pumping vains you will not regret, and you will remember what a blessing it was to be alive over the past 30 years, as we watched Michael Jackson grow in to our collective hearts.

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ED said...

Posted on Nov 07 2009 12:43 I guess we should just move the hell on and forget that a real talent without an ego ever existed. A talent that brought the world together for 30 years. What do we do now? Await for your next crappy comment and live by a rubble of mediocrity that some people can not help but poison the world with?

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aisha said...

Posted on Nov 07 2009 08:03 It was a magical experience just to watch the movie. So poigniant, that when it was over the entire cinema audience just sat and clapped. A testimony to a true legend in the real sense. Nothing infantile about his comments regarding the earpiece AT ALL. It was actually one of my best parts, bcos it showed how important it was for him to FEEL the music. I think he was brilliant from start to finish.
Again, contrary to the reviewer, comparing MJ to Elvis is a joke. No denying Elvis has a massive and dedicated fan base in Europe and US, BUT MJ was the WORLD - Asia, Africa etc. His death was felt not just in cities, but in every town, village and every home. I come from a remote African village where nobody has heard of Elvis, but there was a great sense of loss when MJ died that cut across age groups.
Anyway, I agree with Max totally. The movie is a definite must-see - not just about the performance, but the man himself. Humble, caring, intelligent and full of life. He was so natural in his performance. To think that even the rehearsal is better than most finished concerts of other artists. Its amazing. MJ leads, other artists follow.

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frank said...

Posted on Nov 06 2009 10:16 It was who it was giving himself to that caused the problems.

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