The Controversial Biopic of a Pop Icon
Michael Jackson’s long-awaited biopic, Michael, has been met with a mixed reception, despite its global box office success. The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, has faced intense scrutiny and criticism for what many consider a “sanitized” portrayal of the late pop legend’s life. This stark contrast between commercial performance and critical acclaim has sparked significant debate about the film’s accuracy and depth.
The movie follows Jackson’s journey from his early days in the Jackson 5 to the beginning of his solo career. It stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, in the lead role. While the film aims to capture the essence of Jackson’s life, it has drawn attention for its omissions, particularly regarding the child abuse allegations that surrounded him throughout his career.
Despite high expectations and a promising opening, the film received some of the worst reviews in the history of music biopics. On Rotten Tomatoes, Michael debuted with a 27 percent rating, later rising slightly to 34 percent. This places it far behind other successful biopics such as A Complete Unknown (82 percent), Better Man (89 percent), and Oppenheimer (93 percent). Even films like I Wanna Dance with Somebody (43 percent) and Back to Black (35 percent) have outperformed it, with only Reagan (18 percent) receiving worse reviews.
Critics have been unkind in their assessments, with some calling the film “a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie.” Others have described it as simplistic and unchallenging, highlighting the glaring omissions in the narrative. Industry insiders suggest that the backlash stems from a “carefully controlled narrative” that some have called a “whitewash” of Jackson’s scandals.
Central to the criticism is the absence of the child abuse allegations that shadowed much of Jackson’s career. According to Variety, the original cut of the film included a third act addressing the fallout from these allegations, ending with investigators arriving at Neverland Ranch. However, this storyline was removed after producers discovered a legal clause tied to a settlement with accuser Jordan Chandler, which barred any depiction or mention of him.
The revisions delayed the film’s release by approximately a year and have fueled claims that the final version presents an overly polished image of Jackson. Several figures close to the singer declined to participate, including Janet Jackson, who said she was asked but chose to decline. LaToya Jackson noted that her sister “kindly declined,” emphasizing the need to respect her wishes.
Michael’s daughter, Paris Jackson, has been more openly critical of the film. She expressed concerns that the movie panders to a specific section of her father’s fandom that still lives in a fantasy. Paris stated that the film is “Hollywood. It’s fantasyland – it’s not real. But it’s sold to you as real, and a lot of sugar-coated… the narrative is being controlled.”
She continued to highlight the inaccuracies and full-blown lies in the film, stating that “at the end of the day, that doesn’t really fly with me. I don’t really like dishonesty.” Her comments reflect the broader sentiment among those who feel the film fails to capture the true complexity of Michael Jackson’s life.
