Tuesday, November 3, 2009

MOVIE: This Is It

Fact: Michael Jackson is the King of Pop.

Say what you want about his personal life, financial or legal problems, and anything related to "Wacko Jacko," but the man's music is untouchable and no one can do it like he can.

Need proof? Head to the nearest theater immediately and see the behind-the-scenes documentary of Jackson's not-to-be final concert extravaganza, This Is It. Composed of rough shots from several rehearsal performances in London, the film documents the spectacle of the show and reveals the Michael Jackson few people got to see.

Soft-spoken but dogmatic, Jackson is clearly a perfectionist. Stopping numbers to tell the keyboardist to pause possibly a nanosecond more on a certain beat or changing the spacing of certain dancers all for the sake of his "vision." Most artists don't (or can't) put this much authenticity and effort into their final performances as Michael Jackson puts into his rehearsals.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, the man behind the High School Musical franchise as well as the film Newsies, the film allows the viewer to be a silent observer to something that came so close but never was. Ortega, a friend of Jackson's was the director of the actual concert, by the same name, that the film is based upon. It only seems fitting that he allow the word a chance to see that magic that only a handful got to experience firsthand.

Even at 50 years old, Jackson is dancing like his 20-something year old back-up dancers, and singing like he did on his first album in 1979, "Off the Wall." Ortega does a masterful job, with little narration, of bringing the performer in Jackson to life from behind the scenes and stage fog and flashing lights.

To fully appreciate Michael Jackson - the artist, the King of Pop - one needs to see This Is It.

Sergio del Limonar

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