"This Is It" Official Film Trailer
As a music historian I always wished Miles Davis or one of my musical influences had left behind a film about the creation of a concert tour. I have to admit that for Miles it was nothing to do with glitz and glamour as he did his talking with his trumpet and his genius in writing, arranging and selecting musicians.
When I first read about the prospect of a "final tour" film about Michael Jackson after his untimely death, I was purely skeptical that it was one last ploy to create a huge amount of money off of his legacy and to exploit his death. I figured this would have Joseph Jackson's fingerprints all over it. Producer and Director Kenny Ortega could not have proven me more wrong.
From the opening credits to the closing, heart wrenching and thoroughly touching closing credits the film grips you and does not let go. This film was created as if it were planned all along to be released in movie theatres. In reality, Jackson had film crews on set to create a film for his private collection and to pass on to his children. In this case, as Michael never lived to see it fulfilled to fruition, we the fans are the clear winners.
The one things that stands out in this film is what should stand out in every film about a genius musician, the music. Ortega and Jackson clearly had a special bond and this tour would have been one of, if not the biggest and most successful tours ever. The musical arrangements, choreography, song choices, sets, high tech 3-D video productions on-screen and Michael Jackson seemingly still at the top of his game would have assured that.
I decided to see this film not in a private screening, but with a full audience to watch for reactions. I am proud to say that the audience was like the United Nations and ranged from youngsters to several elderly white ladies who sat directly in front of me. Throughout the entire film, you could hear a pin drop as the screen went black between scenes.
The viewers were mesmerized, as was I and I clearly remembered all the memories I had of a young Michael Jackson and why he influenced me so completely. There was no blatant tugging at the heart strings or melodrama. The film was so well done, especially considering it wasn't shot to be a major feature film. Ortega deserves so much credit for putting this film together so well and in such a short period of time. The on screen schmaltz that I fully expected hailing Michael Jackson's death was never mentioned. The film was about the music and what would have been. It leaves so much to the imagination.
The film is basically broken down into each song's rehearsals from it's barest beginning concept up to the fully progressed perfection where each dancer had each step choreographed to perfection. This tour would have cost millions to produce. Watching and listening to it on screen was sonically beautiful and amazing to the eye so I can only imagine being in a large arena watching and actually witnessing it.
The song choices ranged from a carefully produced medley of Jackson 5 songs, done ever so tastefully. To all of the very best songs Michael created in his solo career. What moved me the most was Jackson's willingness and insistence to communicate and never denigrate the other musicians, dancers and artists involved. He was ready, willing and able to pass on his genius mastery of taking a concept and seeing it completely through in his mind, then turning it into a masterpiece.
The film (supposedly) will only be out one more week at theaters, so I cannot urge you enough to go see it. Put aside any personal feelings you have about Jackson's guilt or innocence in the child molestation accusations. Watching this film only reminded me why so many people refuse to believe that he was capable of doing such a thing. The man is all about peace, love and compassion. It shines through on screen like no other portrayal of an artist I've ever seen and it is all so genuine. Was he eccentric and a perfectionist? He absolutely was but what genius was not?
I am attaching a few selected scenes from the film to whet your appetite in hopes that you will go share this experience with any and everyone you know, regardless of age, who is a Michael Jackson fan. I promise you one thing, you will feel as if it were worth every penny you spent and more. I can't say that about too many films today. I can also attest that each and every member of the crew, dancers, musicians and Ortega truly loved, admired and respected Jackson and it definitely seems vice versa. He repeatedly tells the other artists throughout the film, "this is your time to shine." The faces of the artists instantly light up.
One more thing that bears my witnessing. At the close of the film, not one person in the entirety of the crowd moved toward the exit. They sat still, sad, enlightened, moved, stunned at the brilliance of Jackson and most likely felt as I did. Why did this man have to die? As you watch the film you will hear Jackson's voice as good as it's ever been, if not better. There are no voice overs. You will watch him physically look healthy, vibrant and at 50 years of age you will be awed by his physical ability via dance and his stamina. He had not lost a step in 40+ years of wear and tear.
No one in the audience moved from their seats until the credits ended. There was no cheesy applause, just stunned onlookers who knew they had witnessed someone who had contributed so much to the great pantheon of American music and were all thankful it had been documented. I admit I teared up on several occasions during certain songs and Jackson's ability to translate the lyrics via carefully produced video footage that ran on screen behind the stage.
Please, do old Blue a favor and go see this film. I write this not as a film critic but as a lover of the arts. Music is love, love brings peace and the closing minutes of the film drive that point home like no other. This is real life happening, not a script. If this film doesn't leave you angered and perplexed as to why Jackson was so heavily medicated and allowed to die for no good reason, I'll be shocked. His vocals and fleet footed artistry comes across on screen like never before. It's simply a must see on the big screen in full, flawless stereo.
Since not all of the film video footage is unable to be embedded I am providing links of snippets from the film below. They are all well worth watching.
"Human Nature" Rehearsals
The Final Rehearsal Footage "They Don't Really Care About Us"
Promotion of the Film
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Comments
Sadly, MJ's short life is a salutary lesson to parents trying to get their ever-younger offspring on to shows like "America's Got Talent." It quite sickens me to see four-year olds out there. Don't their parents realise that they're sacrificing their children to the god of wealth? For goodness sake, let the kids grow up and have a childhood FIRST! Then let them decide if they want to pursue such a career. MJ never had a childhood because of his overbearing and ambitious father. For that he paid dearly - eventually with all kinds of accusations as he tried to re-discover that lost childhood - and ultimately with his life. "They Don't Really care About Us" could easily become a comment on just how much promoters, managers and record companies (parents even?) care about the health and well-being of the artistes.
Thanks KOB.
Rated.
This movie is a MUST SEE for everyone, and I mean everyone. An important message of love, hope and care of the planet. It is tragic MJ lost his life at such an early age. A tragic loss for the dancers and singers who had just gotten an opportunity of a lifetime. And most of all, a tragic loss for the 50 sold out stadiums that would have been full of people so inspired that surely their experience would have rippled throughout the world. This film takes a small part of the sting out of Jackson's death and helps immortalize a complicated man who was nothing short of sheer brilliance. And it acknowledges the crew, dancers and singers who were stunning in their own right. Highly rated.