"Michael" may be one of the most controversial biographical films in international box office history. This has been the prevailing opinion in many newspapers and forums since its release on April 22nd (April 24th in some countries).
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film focuses on the first half of Michael Jackson's life, his departure from his family band and strict father to reach the top. It also portrays aspects of his loneliness, insecurity, and the price of early fame.
In theaters, viewers enthusiastically sang along and relived the series of songs that made the singer famous. Jaafar Jackson, in his leading role, recreated a part of the legacy of his late uncle Michael, both on stage and in the studio.
However, Michael Jackson was a major icon with global influence, so controversies surrounding him can easily be pushed to a negative level.
Focusing solely on the first half of Michael Jackson's career, the film omits many controversial issues such as allegations of child abuse, legal disputes, changes in skin color and appearance, relationships with people in the industry, and even family members who are not mentioned...
Audiences and critics are divided on popular online review platforms like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
Specifically, on Rotten Tomatoes on April 26th, the film received 210 reviews from critics, with only 38% giving positive ratings. The reviewers were writers from newspapers, blogs, YouTubers, and content creators in general who meet Rotten Tomatoes' standards.
The general consensus, as summarized by Rotten Tomatoes, is: "While Jaafar Jackson's masterful dance moves bring the King of Pop to life in a remarkably vivid way, this biographical film is more like a 'Best Songs' album than offering genuine insight into a musical icon."
Conversely, audiences rated "Michael" with completely different opinions. The film received a 97% positive rating from over 5,000 reviews.
"Outstanding performances, especially the breakthrough of Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson topped the charts and got fans worldwide dancing to the music," Rotten Tomatoes summarized the general consensus.
Even within Michael Jackson's own family, there were disagreements. One group wanted to honor his legacy, while the other wanted a more authentic, direct, and strongly critical portrayal.
Michael's mother and most of his siblings in Jackson 5 supported the film and praised Jaafar. His eldest son, Prince Jackson, also served as a co-producer, further endorsing the film.
On the other hand, Paris Jackson, Michael's only daughter and second child, commented that the film was "coated in brown sugar." His sister, Janet Jackson, declined to participate in the film and disagreed with the way the story was being explored, although according to director Antoine Fuqua, she still supported Jaafar's efforts. Several other of Michael's siblings were also present.
Director Antoine Fuqua revealed to Variety that the original film took a more direct approach, including scenes of the search of Michael's property, and the unfair treatment he received during his detention and interrogation.
The film was later re-edited because all content related to Jordan Chandler—who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse in 1993—had to be removed due to a restraining order.
Whether or not there will be a sequel is currently open to debate, as "Michael" was originally conceived as a full-fledged biographical film. The film's future will likely be determined by its box office performance and legal status.
The film has currently grossed over $52 million in North America and over $82 million globally according to Box Office Mojo. In the Vietnamese market, "Michael" lagged behind Vietnamese films due to fewer screenings, but it has already grossed over 2.8 billion VND and is continuing to increase.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/nguoi-ham-mo-michael-jackson-thach-thuc-gioi-phe-binh-dien-anh-post1107006.vnp
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