Today I saw “This Is It” and there are so MANY adjectives that can accurately describe this movie but above all, I’d choose insightful and compelling.
There is no way to know if Michael Jackson’s 50 concert extravaganza would have returned him to his throne as the “king of Pop” but the film shows the foundations of an extravagant and amazing concert. It was a show that was epic in scale but Director Kenny Ortega makes viewing the rehearsal footage an intimate experience that allows the audience to connect with Jackson and his band, dancers, and stage technicians in a way that no ticket holder would ever have been able to.
Clearly, “This Is It” was a show that was intensely controlled and overseen by Jackson. There are a few moments of respectfully but strongly expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangement of songs, technical difficulties with an earpiece’s sound level and choreography. In each instance, Jackson is firm but polite and respectful when expressing his opinion, vision or concerns.
Technology was a HUGE part of this show. Most stunningly, the audience would have seen a virtual army, cloned by computer, backing Jackson during “They Don’t Care About Us” and the finished effects interspersed into the film provide a glimpse of how creatively computer graphics were to have been used. In addition to this effect, Jackson was seamlessly inserted into a Rita Hayworth movie along with Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart to create an amazing film noir intended to accompany “Smooth Criminal” Still more computer effects were used to completely improve on the legendary video for Thriller, which would have been an eye popping 3D experience for the audience, and a video starring a little girl in a rain forest during the emotional ballad “Earth Song”
If Jackson was in pain and on the verge of his tragic death, the signs are nowhere to be found in this footage. There are moments when he steadfastly refuses to hit performance notes during songs stating his concern for his throat and one glaring omission of his signature “moonwalk” during Billie Jean but these scenes are from a rehearsal after all and as such not surprising considering the epic scale of the show he was preparing to stage.
Jackson’s energy, enthusiasm, professionalism and love of his process are all front and center throughout the film. He loved what he was doing and who he was doing it with and for and it shows.
The most curious but of course obviously explainable omission is the applause and crowd reaction to the numbers. Frequently during the movie, I heard audience members gasp, laugh, hum along and I saw feet tapping and viewers subtly swaying in their seats. I felt the urge more than once to applaud and the silence that accompanies several of the performances serves to heighten the impact and emotion but it’s also odd to hear the director’s voice in place of tens of thousands of screaming fans.
It’s not a stretch to say that Michael Jackson will live forever, if only on screen, in this film and that the experience of viewing it is like being invited to sit in the stands and watch the rehearsal of what would have been a phenomenal concert event. Even scaled back and comprised of carefully edited footage to create a complete show, it’s clear that this would have been a stage show that people would have been talking about for certain.
The interviews with band members, dancers, artists, stage technicians and those tasked with bringing Jackson’s vision to life provide a clear reverence and awe for him, including some very emotionally overwhelmed performers who turned to Jackson’s auditions for an opportunity to work with a childhood idol or to experience working for an even bigger star than they had previously taken the stage with. Obviously, the audience is only going to see and hear the people who are most awestruck or appreciative for the chance but all of the commentary is genuine and shows just how revered Jackson was.
Watching “This Is It” is a unique experience. It’s escapist, it’s emotional, it’s awe-inspiring, it’s fascinating and above all it’s entertaining. I never considered myself a Michael Jackson fan but leaving the theater, I was filled with respect and admiration for Jackson’s vision and performances and wonder as to what might have been if only he had lived to bring the show to life.
The movie is an emotional and entertaining tribute to one of the most legendary stars in Popular Music history and in an odd way, a final gift from Michael Jackson to his fans. During a news conference early in the film, he states “This Is It’ is to be his “final curtain call” and ironically but satisfyingly, it is a memorable one that anyone who ever bought one of his albums, discs or tickets MUST see and appreciate!
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