Reel Talk: Michael
To approach this review from a neutral lens would seem daunting. After all, Michael Jackson is perhaps the most influential figure in my own creative development. Nevertheless, for the sake of critical integrity, I entered Michael , directed by Antoine Fuqua of Training Day fame, with as much balance as I could stabilize. It was as though I carried a Libra scale in my pocket. Michael is a dazzling and exhilarating homage to the King of Pop. Jaafar Jackson ’s rendition of his uncle is, at moments, uncanny to the point of being somewhat disquieting. This isn’t mimicry. It is an embodiment of nuances, quirks, and intonations, in addition to personifying Michael’s unhealthy desire for perfection, his yearning for escapism, and his altruistic disposition, all without resorting to trite or superfluous devices. But it isn’t just Jaafar who is spellbinding. All of the principal actors nail their depictions, especially Colman Dom...
