Michael Trailer Review
I’m a card-carrying nerd, but I’m also an avid music lover. Music is one of those things that everyone can connect to, regardless of who they are or where they come from, and the best music is capable of uniting the entire world. And when it comes to musical performers, few were as famous as that of Michael Jackson. Whether it was making the greatest music video of all time, popularizing dance moves, or even turning a dangerous neighborhood into the safest place on Earth for a day, few people in history were as famous as him. Needless to say, his sudden death in 2009 came as a shock to a lot of people, and although it’s been almost 17 years since then, people wish that he were still with us. While that might not be possible, this spring we’ll get the next best thing: a biopic.
Produced by the man who gave us the equally great biopic of Freddy Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody, and distributed by Lionsgate, Michael is set to release this April, and there is a lot of hype surrounding it. It’s not the first film or documentary to be released about the late King of Pop, but given how well Bohemian Rhapsody told the story of Freddy Mercury, it’s safe to say that it’s going to be the most high-profile one. Based on the trailer that Lionsgate recently dropped on their YouTube channel, the film intends to tell us as much of the story of Jackson’s life as possible. From his early days as a member of the family band, the Jackson 5, to his decision to fly solo and reach international stardom, Michael looks set to be one of the biggest films of the spring. However, it’s not just the fact that this is a biopic about the legend that’s got people’s attention. It’s the fact that the role of Michael is being played by none other than Jaafar Jackson, his own nephew.
Jaafar Had to Earn the Right to Play his Uncle
Like his uncle and many members of his family, Jaafar Jackson seems to have a natural talent for music. He released his first single, “Got me Singing” in 2019, and after listening to it myself, I’ll admit he’s a pretty good singer. His singing is a lot softer and more subdued when compared to the larger-than-life tone his uncle had, but when it comes to his dancing, he’s got the spirit of Michael in him. However, it should be noted that he’s not getting to play his uncle based on nepotism. According to a recent behind-the-scenes video, Jaafar had to work to earn the right to play his late uncle in Michael.
Given what we’ve seen in the trailer, though, I think Jaafar is going to pull it off.
I’ll be honest when I say that I never really knew who Michael Jackson was until after he died. My only exposure to him was when my middle school played his music video “Thriller” at a pep rally one day, but that was about it. Having listened to his music in the years since then, though, I can see why he’s a legend. His voice, his fashion sense, his dance moves. Everything that he did and sang on-stage oozed charisma, and his music is just plain incredible. He deserves to remembered as one of the greatest musical artists of all time, and I am looking forward to seeing his life story play out on the big screen. And judging by what everyone’s saying about the trailer, we have a lot to look forward to.
