Huff Post Review: This Is It: The IMAX Experience

This Is It: The IMAX Experience
2009
112 minutes
Rated PG

There is no getting around the obvious exploitation factor at play. Regardless of how tasteful and respectful this film is, at the end of the day, Sony paid $60 million for the rights to this otherwise private footage because they wanted to cash in on the sudden and shocking death of its star. But if you can dissociate the material from the motive for its production, Kenny Ortega's This Is It works as a low-key farewell to a generational icon. As a Michael Jackson fan in the 80s and early 90s, I had always hoped that he could get his musical act together and go out with a dash of style (truth be told, he hadn't released a truly good album in nearly twenty-years). The underlying tragedy of this documentary is the realization of how close Jackson may have been to getting the comeback that his fans were yearning for.

A token amount of plot - the feature basically spans the last couple months of Jackson's life, detailing the rehearsal sessions for his upcoming 50-concert comeback tour that was to be his probable farewell to live performing. We see about a dozen songs, performed in clips from a few different rehearsals, with token tidbits of behind the scenes footage and previews of what would eventually be the multimedia supplements for each song (ie - 3D zombie movies for "Thriller", a mini-movie with Rita Hayworth and Humphrey Bogart for "Smooth Criminal"). What is most impressive is how strictly the film adheres to its business at hand. There are no side-stories, only a few brief testimonials, and nary a hint of the ultimate fate of this concert that everyone was so proud to be a part of. The vast majority of the running time is all about the production and rehearsals that went into the would-be tour itself. The only sentiment comes from Michael Jackson himself, as he occasionally opines about the state of the environment.

However interesting this stuff is as a time-capsule, the fact still remains that this is rehearsal footage, and thus you're not seeing Jackson at his peak, or even giving it his all in any given performance. He mentions several times that he's trying not to tax his voice prior to the actual performances, and his dancing is often half-hearted at best. Intentional or not, there is a disturbing undertone at play, as we wonder whether the forgotten song lyrics, physical hesitations, and sometimes underwhelming performance was merely the product of the rehearsal process, or an accidental glimpse of a 50-year old musician struggling to perform like the 25-year old who changed the world half a lifetime ago.

Still, if the King of Pop is no longer the young man who first moon-walked at the Motown 25th Anniversary Celebration in 1983, he is certainly willing to cede the occasional spotlight to those around him. Some of the best footage involves the back-up singers and musicians who got to live out their dream of performing with their idol. In fact, since much of the footage is the standard video quality, the core appeal of the IMAX format is getting a chance to really listen to the actual music that inspired a generation of young artists ("Beat It" has a killer guitar solo that's up there with "Johnny Be Good" or "Purple Haze"). And Jackson certainly seems grateful to the talent that he has at his fingertips, and his few attempts to be a stern taskmaster come off as genuinely comical.

Whether or not the motives behind this picture are pure (director Kenny Ortega seems genuinely interested in honoring his friend), This Is It remains an interesting curiosity that avoids both tawdry sensationalism and lionization (no mention is made of either his personal life or his untimely death). But there is also a clear lack of any kind of illumination to who Jackson really was. Even during private rehearsals, he still seems 'on', so don't expect any kind of unguarded moments or epiphanies about this deeply private man. Whether or not This Is It needs to be seen in theaters is an open question, but it's certainly a must-own DVD for the most devoted Michael Jackson fans. Me? I'll stick with my CDs of Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, preferring to remember him during the period when he was truly the king of pop.

Grade: B-

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Comments

[SC341]

I saw the movie today and I was very emotionally moved by the whole movie, but when he does "Man In The Mirror" at the end I think most of the people in the theater were crying. Also, the "This Is It" song is hardly getting any airplay on the radio but the CD is number 1 on Amazon's website. We didn't appreciate this man enough when he was alive imo.

[Cleide97]

I have to say that I was a bigger MJ's fan in the 80's and 90's as well as the author of this article. but since MJ's death, I feel his songs a different meaning, they make real sense to me. So I realized I missed his later work and decided to "startin' something", listening to the ones I thought weren't that great of work, like "Butterflies". It's amazing how I now understand the popular proverb "distance makes the heart grow fonder". I wish that distance wasn't called "forever". God I miss him. What I was doing in the last 10 years?? I missed so much! To everyone who loves Michael Jackson for even one song, you must see this movie, you'll see he still there doing his thing as he was 25, a little slower alright, after all we all age. Be we, fans or not are the ones who missed time, judging him around, forgetting his art, looking at his nose. Michael Jackson, was there the whole time, doing his thing for lovers or haters.

[sheaintsayin]

Your post is so touching, and expresses feelings that are my own so closely. It is a hurt to have to admit I took Michael Jackson for granted, and I regret that, and I miss him, a lot.

[Dupree]

Part ONE

The world is creating more and more negative people by the dozens times mega dozens. The fact that the author of this article is writing about Michael Jackson can be categorized as an exploitative gesture as well. It is kind of like the pot calling the kettle black mentality.

And another question I would like to ask this author is did he ever waged this kind of exploitative accusation against Elvis Presley and his family or producers or is somehow when it is Michael Jackson the rules are different.

I for one as a huge fan looks forward to seeing his creativity and his dance steps for as one that has an analytical mind I like the process as much as I like the finish product...if not more so ...the process. For one can learn a lot as to how a genius like Michael Jackson functioned behind the scene and that in itself is invaluable. I also am mindful of the fact that Michael Jackson left behind three young children that will need to be taken care of until they come of age...which is a lot of years to come and the fact that 90 percent of the proceeds from this movie will go to them makes me happy. I for one did not begrudge Graceland and I will not begrudge the use of Michael Jackson to also expand his loved ones account. Excuse me...I do not have a double standard like some folks.

[chitown]

During a long career in professional theater, I always found it taxing when the (many) associate producers and their significant others popped into rehearsals. They simply didn't understand the process, and it was wearying having to constantly explain marking, walking through, blocking for tech, etc. In This Is It, "you're not seeing Jackson at his peak, or even giving it his all in any given performance", because it isn't a performance. You are seeing the painstaking work that goes into the creation of a performance.
The opinion that "his few attempts to be a stern taskmaster come off as genuinely comical" is puzzling. As the musicians acknowledge, MJ knew his music thoroughly, and he was a perfectionist, but he wasn't a bully. He didn't slug the musical director when he played the wrong chord change. But he expected those who worked for him to give him what he wanted, and he persisted until they did. As for his dancing, in the moments when he was working close to full out, dancers half his age are just able to keep up with him physically, but can't approach him artistically. His long improvised riff on Billy Jean leaves them in awe, justifiably.
Throughout his life, it seemed impossible for MJ to be taken at face value. There was no "clear lack of any kind of illumination to who Jackson really was". This IS who he really was, a singular performing genius. I'm already making plans to see This Is It again.

[nisha]

Thank you for defending the rehearsal process. Those who have never understood the gains MJ made in composition and arrangements, sound engineering, vocal power and style after Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad will probably also have a hard time seeing that even while he was not going full out, he was still getting in about five times as many fine motor moves in the same period of time that his best backup dancers performed the basic framework.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm assuming you're correct, but I can only judge what I saw onscreen. Maybe there is a reason that MJ didn't specifically intend for this footage to be seen by the masses. This certainly isn't any kind of final performance, and we're obviously not seeing the man at his peak. Having said that, I pleaded ignorance in my review in regards to the musical rehearsal process because I haven't been in that environment outside of high school theater, about eleven years ago. If my comments reads as a swipe at Jackson rather than a question of sorts (is this the best he could give?), then I can only thank those willing to chime in and answer my inquiries.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

I think you misread my comments about MJ being a 'stern taskmaster'. Point being, he is such a jolly, friendly, and overly pleasant person that the few occasions when he is genuinely displeased with something are amusing, as he's bending over backwards to be polite about his criticism. It's not a flaw, but it was something that struck me as charming about the guy. It was a refreshing change of pace from the Michael Bay/James Cameron/Michael Mann school of discipline, if you will.

[ZimboChick]

Ok after reading the first two paragraphs, I will just have to wait to watch it today at 4.30. I mean everything in and about America is exploitative. What else is new. I just feel like you could have been more positive

[Marrymeplease]

Let me see it then I will give my opinion. I plan to see it . Mr. Mendelson how could you forget Motown 25?

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

You'd be surprised what you forget at 1am in the morning after a 12-hour work day and then 2 hour screening. But then, that's why I rely on you swell people in the comments board to jog my memory when the occasion calls for it. For that you have my thanks.

[RiceStarz]

I saw the 12 am screening in IMAX. It was brilliant and Michael is a forever STAR. He will live forever through his music and the many generations who will follow him in all things magical. This review is fair, but does not fully express the magnificance of what and who Bud was and certainly not the fab work done by the production team in putting this together. It is not exploitive or sensational at all. Just brilliant. I an't recommend it enough. Long live the King!!!

[blacque1]

Great review, however, MJ's first public performance of the moon walk was during the Motown 25 special in 1983.

[Scott Mendelson - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for the correction.