Awesome review

At the end, I almost cried...


http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/28/review.thisisit.jackson/index.html

Review: 'This Is It' a Jackson triumph
By Tom Charity, Special to CNN
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
"This Is It" shows Michael Jackson in excellent form; voice and moves tops
Jackson's charisma is ever-present, and staffers light up when he rehearses
Film shows musician's craftsmanship, the value of taking time to get it right
"This Is It" provides a glimpse of Jackson's humanity, Tom Charity says
(CNN) -- Yes, you probably want to see this.

Kenny Ortega's record of Michael Jackson in rehearsal in the days and weeks before his untimely death in June has been a red-hot advance ticket all over the world, even while fans worried about what the film would reveal about the singer's fitness on the verge of the planned 50-date engagement at London's O2 arena.

He's as thin as a rail, so thin that his trilby looks a size too big for him. But any cynical speculation that the King of Pop headed for the exit to save himself the embarrassment of a flop -- that he wasn't just past his prime but incapable of living up to his own legend -- just won't fly.

From the evidence Ortega shows us, "This Is It: the concert" would have been as thrilling and spectacular as his audience hoped it would be. Jackson may have been broke, but this would have been a no-expense-spared extravaganza. More important, creatively, it's obvious he was far from a spent force.

Admittedly, there is no way to tell from the movie whether "MJ," as his collaborators call him, would have mustered the stamina for the demanding schedule he had signed up for.

Ortega, the choreographer-turned-director who worked with Jackson on the Dangerous World and HIStory tours, categorically has not made a cinéma vérité documentary portrait of Jackson on his last legs. This is no death-watch expose. Quite the opposite: It's a slick, "professional" celebration of a great entertainer at work and much more of a concert film than might have been expected.

Ortega dates the first scenes as April 2009 but leaves it at that. The rehearsal footage, we're told, was shot for Jackson's private library -- and there's a lot of it (the entire show, probably), a dozen of the greatest hits filmed on two or more cameras, and often across at least two rehearsals.

This is augmented by relatively brief clips from filmed segments intended for use in the concert, including a new 3-D "Thriller" video and a film noir number that puts a monochrome Michael on the run from trigger-happy Humphrey Bogart ("Smooth Criminal").

There are also sensibly brief interviews with the show's dancers and musicians, none of whom sheds any insight on Jackson the man or the artist but all of whom attest to his incredible charisma.

Happily, we can see that for ourselves. At 50, Jackson wasn't a pretty young thing any longer; close-ups confirm what a terrible travesty he'd made of his face, with his cleft Kirk Douglas chin and a nose that looks like a cartoonist's impression of a skate ramp. But this inspired dancer still had the moves, and even when he's singing well within himself (which is most of the time, here) we can appreciate his fine phrasing, his superb sense of rhythm.

Maybe the movie's greatest pleasure is witnessing how he gently, firmly coaxes out the sound he's hearing in his head from his musical collaborators: insisting on a longer pause or a funkier bass or more dramatic punctuation. "Rapport" would be too intimate a word -- royalty remains untouchable, and not even Ortega seems comfortable putting his arm around Michael's shoulders -- but Jackson could communicate musical ideas with a joy and exuberance that anyone can understand.

His cast and crew, who were also his last live audience, invariably light up whenever Jackson is performing.

And always the sound and the staging seem indivisible in his mind. It shouldn't come as any surprise, but after decades of idle tabloid gossip, lies and innuendo, it's a relief to be reminded of Jackson's prodigious talent, the consummate care and craftsmanship underneath all the razzmatazz.

The performances here are not the finished article. He wasn't, evidently, a man to show up at rehearsals in jeans and T-shirt, but for one rehearsal he sports bright orange trousers and a silver lamé jacket; at another, a red shirttail hangs half in, half out of his trousers. There are mistakes, modifications, mild disgruntlement -- though we're never shown anything resembling a temper tantrum.

"That's why we rehearse," Jackson murmurs more than once, sanguine that everything will be all right on the night.

It wasn't to be. We'll never experience Jackson's "final curtain call" as he envisaged it for himself. But "This Is It" gives us a glimpse of a more human Michael Jackson than the King of Pop ever presented in his lifetime. Imperfection suits him better than he knew.

"This Is It" runs 112 minutes and is rated PG. For Entertainment Weekly's review, click here.

Thanks for posting...I love reading all the great reviews it's getting...he's FINALLY getting the recognition he so deserved!

Although this review is 'positive' overall, this comment REALLY burns my ass to no end:

"At 50, Jackson wasn't a pretty young thing any longer; close-ups confirm what a terrible travesty he'd made of his face, with his cleft Kirk Douglas chin and a nose that looks like a cartoonist's impression of a skate ramp".

And then later in the article he says:

"But "This Is It" gives us a glimpse of a more human Michael Jackson"

It just make me SOOOO mad at how cruel and heartless people are...even if they don't realize it (which they should if they are over the age of 10) or if they mean well. MJ WAS human...he never claimed to be anything but human...it was everyone else who twisted that in some way. And as a human, can you just imagine reading this sort of thing about yourself??? Just hearing or reading it once would at the least cause me to be more self-conscious...at the least. But imagine hearing or reading it on an almost daily basis...people ridiculing you and your face! And then having to appear in public for interviews or to have paparazzi following your every move just to photograph your face so they can make fun of it later. I can't even begin to understand how hurt MJ's soul must have been throughout his life, just based on these sorts of comments that he had to always endure. And sure, it's easy for someone to say, "It doesn't bother me what others say," but that statement in itself would suggest that your not human...to be human means to have feelings and to want to be loved and appreciated and to be hurt when others make fun of you. And I'm sure it hurt MJ greatly.

: ( there was nothing wrong with his face. I would like to see the face of whoever wrote this and BITE it!!!

Tracy...

I agree. The man was more human than some other people. Humble, vulnerable, shy. If those are not human characteristics, then the author is clearly talking about someone else. Plus, let's not forget about how divine that man is!

"after decades of idle tabloid gossip, lies and innuendo, it's a relief to be reminded of Jackson's prodigious talent, the consummate care and craftsmanship underneath all the razzmatazz." - also, not sure what razzmatazz he's talking about. The one portrayed and created by the media?? But the first part of this I like...

I thought overall review of the movie was positive....

It was positive. But seriously, do they always HAVE to attack his appearance!!!??? He was so beautiful. Whomever cannot see they are just freakin blind or are paid a helluva lot of money to say it!

LMAO @ dareme....those pics are priceless!!!!!!

LMFAO Dareme....
lets smack some bitches that saying Michael is not pretty you thing!!!