From Graham King and the creators of Queen’s biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Michael” explores Michael Jackson’s journey to becoming one of the most influential pop stars in history. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this film highlights the star’s story, beginning with the Jackson 5, then transforming into the solo artist so many know and love. 

Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s own nephew, steps into the role as Michael himself. Jaafar is the son of Jermaine Jackson, who was an original member of the Jackson 5, but later left the group. 

Another notable actor in this film is the iconic Colman Domingo who plays Joseph (Joe) Jackson, Michael’s father. The makeup team did a great job of transforming him into the paternal leader of the Jackson family. The heavy makeup and cosmetics on his face made him nearly unrecognizable. 

I was initially turned off by this film due to the bad reviews it was receiving. I knew I had to see it for myself before forming an opinion on it since I have always been a Michael Jackson fan — and it is safe to say I was not disappointed. In fact, my roommate and I could not sit still in our seats. 

The film opens in Gary, Indiana in 1964, shortly after the formation of the Jackson 5 when Michael was still a young boy. The opening scene shows the brothers rehearsing under the strict expectations of their father, who demands perfection. After a late-night performance, Joe tells his sons they need to go practice immediately rather than going to bed.  In response, Michael says he thought they had done really well.

This angers Joe and from this moment on, establishes the man that he was: strict and controlling, but also extremely ambitious. He wants his boys to make it big and knows that Michael specifically has a gift in singing and dancing. He knows he has to use Michael to his full potential. 

Once the Jackson 5 make it big, including being featured on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Michael expresses a desire to experiment with solo work, independent of his father and brothers.  His father, however, does not approve and wants the brothers to work strictly as a group. 

On his own time and apart from the Jackson 5, Michael records his first major solo studio album, “Off the Wall,” in 1979, opening the door for a new wave of fame solely for Michael. People loved Michael while he was performing with the Jackson 5, so hearing him on his own was exciting for his fans. 

From there, Michael’s fame only grew. In 1984, Michael won eight Grammys, seven alone for his studio album “Thriller,” earning him the record for most wins in a single night and worldwide recognition. The film features iconic moments throughout Michael’s career, including the famous “Thriller” music video, the “Beat It” choreography and so much more. 

The movie also touches on the pressure Michael was under from his father to keep performing with his brothers. Despite the popularity and money the Jacksons got from the success of Michael’s solo work, his father felt that Michael was betraying the family by pursuing his own music. Michael goes as far as firing his own father as his manager due to his overbearing presence and the decisions being made over his own music. 

One of the most talented actors in this film is Jaafar. Not only does he portray Michael, but in my opinion, he is an embodiment of him.  This being his acting debut proves the natural talent that comes from the Jackson family. He nailed Michael’s mannerisms in dancing and in talking perfectly. At some points throughout the film, I was second-guessing whether it was Jaafar or Michael himself since Jaafar looks so much like his uncle. 

Personally, I’m glad that they chose a family member to play Michael. I don’t believe that anyone else could have played Michael better than someone blood-related to him. There are countless Michael impersonators online, but none of them could have portrayed the artist as convincingly as Jaafar did. 

Some other notable performances include Juliano Krue Valdi, taking on the role of young Michael at just nine years old when he was cast. Much like Jaafar, Valdi bears a striking resemblance to Michael. He was chosen for the role because of his ability to impersonate the artist through viral dance videos. His performance is extremely impressive given the size of the role at such a young age, and he nailed it. 

The movie recreates some of the shows from the Jacksons’ iconic “Victory Tour,” one of the last tours where the Jackson 5 performed together before Michael officially went on his own. This scene showcases some of Michael’s songs, such as “Human Nature” and “Workin’ Day and Night.” 

Perhaps my favorite part of the film was the recreation of Michael’s “Bad” tour. The intensity and energy of the scene made it feel as though I were actually attending one of his concerts. It was the perfect way to wrap up the film and tease the second “Michael” movie that will also star Jaafar Jackson. 

Whether you are a Michael Jackson fan or not, I highly recommend giving this film a watch for its strong performances and entertaining recreations of Michael’s most iconic songs throughout. Since watching this movie, all I listen to is Michael Jackson — and I’m sure you will as well.