This is It
Directed by Kenny Ortega
Three and One Half Stars
“This Is It” works best as a eulogy. It captures the king of pop on stage, the only place he was ever really at home, still deeply passionate about his music and still in fine physical and vocal form during what we now know were the last few months of his life. The film should lay to rest most of the rumors about Michael Jackson, that he was too dooped up on tranquilizers and sedatives to perform, that he was alienated or isolated from those around him, or that he was just plain crazy. The Michael Jackson in “This Is It” is gracious, humble, intelligent, and keen. He treated his technicians and fellow performers with the utmost respect, and that respect was returned. The Michael Jackson in “This Is It” was a great a man.
It should be know that “This Is It” is not one of those ‘concert-experience’ movies like the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cirus have been cashing in on lately. It would have, though, if Jackson had not passed away between the time this footage was shot and the series of sold out London concerts where the serious shooting was meant to take place.
Fortunately the concert director Kenny Ortega, who also directed the film, kept quality cameras running for most of the rehearsals. Likely intended for behind-the-scenes special features or maybe some intercut footage cut between live songs of the feature, Ortega used the rehearsal footage to paint a portrait of Jackson and the farewell concerts he was preparing that is far more intimate and personal than a concert film would have been.
A concert film would have been just that – a concert on film. “This Is It” shows Jackson synchronizing with engineers, communicating with his backup dancers, making mistakes and correcting them, and doing so with grace and confidence. The man knew his music inside and out, and had a very particular vision for its presentation. He was fortunate to have such talented people around him to realize that vision.
Because the rehearsals were not meant to be the whole of the film, much of the footage is regrettably low in quality, often grainy or slightly out of focus. The limited number of cameras however, means that the average shot length is much longer than it might have been with more, so we get a cleaner, more revealing look at Jackson’s performances. Also, in a disappointing moment, Jackson explains to his vocal director that he isn’t singing to his full potential because he’s saving his voice for the shows.
I have always felt that Michael Jackson’s music was missing a key component if Jackson himself wasn’t there dancing to it. The music itself was always just well made pop music. It was the thrill of the performance that made Michael Jackson a superhero. There are times, though, when Jackson’s music does becomes political. His message is simple and pure, and delivered with heart. There is a monologue in “This Is It” in which Jackson explains his deep love of nature and the beauty of the earth. To quote any of it would be redundant. Like everything else in Jackson’s remarkable career, the magic is in the delivery.
It should be know that “This Is It” is not one of those ‘concert-experience’ movies like the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cirus have been cashing in on lately. It would have, though, if Jackson had not passed away between the time this footage was shot and the series of sold out London concerts where the serious shooting was meant to take place.
Fortunately the concert director Kenny Ortega, who also directed the film, kept quality cameras running for most of the rehearsals. Likely intended for behind-the-scenes special features or maybe some intercut footage cut between live songs of the feature, Ortega used the rehearsal footage to paint a portrait of Jackson and the farewell concerts he was preparing that is far more intimate and personal than a concert film would have been.
A concert film would have been just that – a concert on film. “This Is It” shows Jackson synchronizing with engineers, communicating with his backup dancers, making mistakes and correcting them, and doing so with grace and confidence. The man knew his music inside and out, and had a very particular vision for its presentation. He was fortunate to have such talented people around him to realize that vision.
Because the rehearsals were not meant to be the whole of the film, much of the footage is regrettably low in quality, often grainy or slightly out of focus. The limited number of cameras however, means that the average shot length is much longer than it might have been with more, so we get a cleaner, more revealing look at Jackson’s performances. Also, in a disappointing moment, Jackson explains to his vocal director that he isn’t singing to his full potential because he’s saving his voice for the shows.
I have always felt that Michael Jackson’s music was missing a key component if Jackson himself wasn’t there dancing to it. The music itself was always just well made pop music. It was the thrill of the performance that made Michael Jackson a superhero. There are times, though, when Jackson’s music does becomes political. His message is simple and pure, and delivered with heart. There is a monologue in “This Is It” in which Jackson explains his deep love of nature and the beauty of the earth. To quote any of it would be redundant. Like everything else in Jackson’s remarkable career, the magic is in the delivery.
Rollan Schott
November 5, 2009
Originally Featured in the Daily Nebraskan.
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