Today I re-watched this documentary. If I remember correctly it was released very soon after the death of Michael Jackson (the subject of the doc). I think that it was supposed to be a concert film, but his untimely death didn't allow for any actual concert footage. So it was made into a concert tour preparation film. I have watched a lot of "roc-doc's" and many of them include the pre show or pre tour events, but I don't know of any other film that is dedicated to the events and on goings prior to a major concert tour.
And I do mean major! If this show had actually hit the road it would have to have been one of the most expensive concert sets and shows in history. The production set up had to have cost more than some small countries Gross National Product. There were acrobats, boom lifts, fireworks, what seemed like hundreds of dancers and musicians and so forth.
I am of the age where Michael Jackson songs evoke instant nostalgia. As a kid I can remember dancing to Thriller and Billy Jean. I vividly remember where I was when all 4 network and several cable channels broadcast Jackson's Black or White video. I had a silver glove, I made pedophile jokes, I moon walked (and sometimes still do). This doc has a way of bringing me back to watching Jackson's videos on MTV and Weird Al's parody's.
What I was amazed by was his perfectionist attitude. People call James Brown "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business". Those people have obviously never seen This is It. Jackson is involved in every aspect of the production. He hears and sees things that no one else does. He stops a rehearsal mid song to listen to just the piano, and corrects the pianist on his pacing. He is critical on the lighting and the direction of the show. I'm sure the show has a director who is probably on of the most sought after stage directors there is and Michael put him to shame. The best example of this comes during a new "message song" about the environment (that I didn't like). On stage there is a screen showing rain forests being destroyed. Then a large dozer drives on stage at the end of the song. The plan was to have it lower is scoop as the music faded out. Michael said it would have more impact if it lowered its scoop AFTER the music stopped. The dozer needed to lower its scoop in silence. And guess what? He was 100% correct. It did carry more emotional weight that way.
But he was never dictatorial towards anyone. His comments were softly spoken and with respect. It's just that he knew exactly what he wanted. And everyone in the stadium respected him for that. It was great to see his backup dancers and singers and the band fawn over him. He was beloved by everyone he dealt with.
Another thing that shone through was his unparalleled talent. He sang and danced totally effortlessly. He wasn't even really dancing. It was like the music was flowing out of his body causing it to move in sync. He was like a marionette and the beats and rhythms were the puppet masters. I have never seen anyone dance without trying. His songs and the way he sang them were truly art. That is something that you can't often say about pop music. As a general rule pop music is created with the audience in mind. It is made in an attempt to appeal to the broadest group possible. Jackson's songs were made for him and we all found a way to relate. I challenge anyone not to sing along with Human Nature or not to move to Wanna Be Startin' Something". It can't be done. It is so easily recognizable that he loves what he does. He does it for the fans, but there is nothing that gives him greater pleasure.
Michael Jackson made pop music that was artistic, powerful, meaningful and most of all...good. His stage show was determined to be the same way. It makes me sad to think that no one will ever see another live show of his. This is It is an intimate look behind the curtain of a true genius at work. The film doesn't quite live up to the quality of its subject, but it does a good job of capturing the essence of the man and why the entire planet fell in love with his music. I give This is It ★★★1/2.
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