“Michael,” the new Michael Jackson biopic, knows what it’s doing. That’s clear from the opening shot: high-water pants and white socks pushed down to a pair of black penny loafers. It’s appealing to a very specific version of our memories of Michael Jackson. The version some of us prefer to hold onto. But in doing so, it avoids the truth.
Our qualms with the King of Pop? Forget about that. Be horrified by Joe Jackson’s abusive parenting. Where’s Janet Jackson and Diana Ross? Nevermind them. Look, it’s Bubbles the chimp! The child molestation allegations? Eh, let’s just play another No. 1 hit instead! Besides, moviegoers are not complaining. “Michael” crushed box office records. With the best opening weekend for a biopic ever, it’s a hit.
None of this comes as a shock to Wesley Morris, but he’s left with some complicated feelings. His pal, the film curator Eric Hynes, shares these feelings, too. Together, they review the movie and wrestle with the Michael Jackson biopic that could have been.
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