News
Michael, the new biographical film about Michael Jackson, is drawing clear division among critics, with near-general agreement on Jaafar Jackson’s strong presence in the lead role, alongside criticism of how the film handles the more sensitive and complicated aspects of the late pop star’s life.
Details
• Critic Owen Gleiberman of Variety says the film works as a mainstream musical biopic, arguing that Jaafar Jackson delivers the strongest element of the movie by recreating Michael’s movement, voice, and stage presence.
• By contrast, The Guardian says the film presents an overly polished and safe version of Michael Jackson’s life, criticizing the film for staying away from the story’s sensitive areas.
• Roger Ebert argues that the film revisits famous moments from Jackson’s life without giving viewers enough understanding of the person behind the legend.
• Between praise for the performance and reservations about the screenplay, the early critical reading of the film looks like this: a work capable of attracting audiences through music and nostalgia, but one that does not go far enough in unpacking Michael Jackson’s personality and contradictions.
What’s next?
The film’s critical and audience reception is expected to become clearer as its release expands and more reviews are published, especially regarding its ability to balance the appeal of a musical biopic with the sensitivity of the story it tells.
