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'This Is It' serves as the perfect goodbye to Michael Jackson
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Michael Jackson at a March press event for the 'This Is It' concerts.
Michael Jackson's This Is It is the number one movie in the country, and boy, does it deserve it.
The film, which opens with a silent title sequence detailing the origins of the footage, showcases MJ (who died of a prescription drug overdose June 25) in the final rehearsals for what was to be his final series of concerts titled 'This Is It.' The most striking aspect of the film, and the thing that makes it exponentially sadder, is that it is rehearsal footage being shown and not actual performances. Even in sweatpants and without going 'full-out,' Jackson's prodigious singing and dancing prove that the quality of his rehearsal is greater than any other entertainer's best performance.
It's clear from the very start of the film that everyone involved--from the guitarists to the dancers to the lighting technicians--knows that they've been chosen to be part of something special, and that feeling immediately filters into the film's audience. Surprisingly, the movie has an overwhelming sense of joy. It's no morbid tribute to a dead icon; instead MJ's spirit and gift are very much alive, giving the viewer the sense that they're watching a full-on concert with behind-the-scenes extras thrown in.
One of the most notable things about This Is It is the agility with which MJ navigates the stage. If he was struggling physically, it was never captured on film and this was not the behavior or movement of a man who was on the brink of death. The footage is so physically compelling, it should be submitted as evidence that the singer was murdered and not, in fact, in poor physical health. As for the early reports that the entertainer would have been unable to honor his commitment to perform the concert, those can quickly be dismissed within the first few minutes of the film when MJ is helping the dancers tighten their choreography, beat boxing, and doing his trademark glide across the stage.
Thanks to Kenny Ortega's meticulous direction and the care with which he handles MJ's image and legacy, for the two hours of the film, the viewer completely forgets the scandal that has plagued the superstar in both life and death. During the film, the news that his father, Joseph Jackson, has requested a monthly allowance is forgotten; during the film, the news that the Jackson family will appear on an A&E reality show is forgotten. All that remains is a brilliant showcase of the world's greatest entertainer embarking on the largest concert series of his career.
A fitting tribute to the skill, talent, generosity and professionalism of a consummate entertainer, This Is It is a concert experience that Michael Jackson himself would be quite proud of.
Rest in peace, MJ. Michael Jackson's This Is It is in theaters now.
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