#REVIEW: “MICHAEL”

By Mr. Will Wong

We know what we know about King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in the public eye. What Director Antoine Fuqua does well in MICHAEL, thanks to an astounding breakthrough performance from our lead Jaafar Jackson, is humanize this legend, really getting to the heart of the story at a very exciting turning point in his life.

We meet Michael Jackson at the start of this Biopic just as he’s embarking on his BAD Tour, but getting there was the perhaps the icon’s biggest challenge to date.  We then go back to his childhood, where he is appointed lead of The Jackson Five, comprised of his brothers and under the iron fist of their abusive manager-father, Joseph Jackson (Colman Domingo). While the success the brothers achieve is great, including getting signed to Motown Records, it is ever apparent that Michael can achieve even more on his own. He quietly begins working on solo material, getting the help of his record label executives to get Joseph‘s blessing, and eventually hiring a lawyer John Branca (Miles Teller) to excuse Joseph of his manager duties and not without a bit of drama. And even though Michael achieves stratospheric success ultimately with his THRILLER album, this still doesn’t free him from his father’s clutch, as Joseph still is plotting to draw Michael back to The Jackson Five.

At its core, MICHAEL is a story of a young man escaping his controlling, self-serving father, as he is destined for greatness.  But this comes at a cost as we all know and in the Final Act of the Film, Michael endures a lot before finally finding his inner voice. There is more to be told and this is only the first-half, but we are ready for it.

Not enough can be said about Jaafar‘s tremendous work embodying Michael‘s spirit. He taps into Michael‘s vulnerability, making the coping mechanisms which we’ve often perceived as ridiculous – including adopting a giraffe and a chimpanzee at home – all begin to make sense when the Film ties everything together with a glimpse into the battles he was facing at home. But it is when Michael is on-stage that Jaafar truly excels, truly becoming Michael Jackson, nailing the demanding choreography with great effortlessness.  Make no mistake, Jaafar is a star. And let’s not forget Domingo‘s terrifying turn as Joseph, which haunts us after the credits roll.

Cinematographer Dion Beebe (Chicago, Memoirs of  Geisha) is no rookie to framing a shot masterfully and that is none the different here. MICHAEL is gorgeous to watch and we felt so in-the-moment in the concert scenes, taking us right there. Say what you will about MICHAEL skipping over details, but I feel there is more to tell and that coming film will go deeper into Jackson‘s struggles as we all know his story while triumphant, is a bittersweet one.

Truly one of the year’s first films to showcase a truly Awards Season-worthy performance. Cineplex Pictures release MICHAEL in theatres April 24, 2026.