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Michael Jackson's "This Is It": What it is and what it isn't
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Lionel Richie arrives at Japan premiere of Michael Jackson's This is it
The first thing that strikes you about “This Is It” is that, despite the glowing testimonials about Michael Jackson by the dancers at the beginning of the film, “This Is It” truly is a concert film. It’s not an expose into the secret life of Michael Jackson. It doesn’t rehash the death of the King of Pop. In fact, the film never mentions his death. This film is music, performances and the art of getting it right.
The second thing that strikes you in “This Is It” is how empty the whole thing feels. Not the performances and not the film, but the fact that the show that was worked on so diligently would never see its official debut. While we get a very good feel for what the show could have been, there’s no doubt that this film will never match what could have been. Watching the skeleton of what would have been the Thriller sequence of Michael Jackson’s London tour brings on the phantom audio of what would have been the insane screams and cheers of the audience that should have been in the auditorium.
This is what “This Is It” isn’t: It’s not a biography. It’s not even a profile. It’s a true concert film. If you’ve never seen a concert film, then “This Is It” is a good introduction to the medium. It’s all about the performances and the performers, technicians and visionaries who bring those performances to life.
This is what “This Is It” is: one last glimpse at what Michael Jackson’s fame, career and life boiled down to: being a performer. Anyone who knows just a bit of the story of Jackson’s life knows that he spent nearly all his life performing on stage. Perhaps one of the most difficult scenes to watch, which is also one of the most difficult for Michael to perform, is the Jackson 5 sequence in which Jackson performs the numbers he once performed as a child.
As you watch “This Is It,” you never get the sense that you are watching a dying man. In fact, if anything, you see a man who, despite being middle-aged, has no trouble keeping up with the twenty-something dancers who surround him. His vocals on “Human Nature” sound as crisp, clear and vibrant as the day he laid down the original track.
The hidden jewel in “This Is It” is its ability to show you how such an elaborate show comes together and how it takes a talented family to bring it to reality.
The main thing that “This Is It” shows us is how Michael was a true performer in a sea of copycat musicians. Many people can write a song, play the guitar and sing, but only a few can really put on a show. Michael was one of the few and “This Is It” illustrates his keen eye and ability to make the visions in his head a reality.
After the closing number, you can’t help but feel almost desperate to see what the show would have been in all its glory. It’s almost enough to make you angry, sad and frustrated all at once. The great thing is that “This Is It” gives us a glimpse into what could have been Michael Jackson’s comeback. The problem is that watching it is, at times, too bittersweet too handle.
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