Alex B Cann film column - 30/04/26

Every now and then, a film comes along that audiences love, but the critics love to hate. A Minecraft Movie and Karate Kid: Legends are recent examples of this phenomenon, but Michael is perhaps the ultimate. I read a few reviews before heading to see it at the weekend (at a surprisingly busy early morning screening), and had been assured it was "bad, bad, really really bad" by one critic.

Whilst I gather there were extensive rewrites due to non-disclosure agreements, and therefore certain allegations couldn't be referred to in any form, I honestly thought this was a really entertaining watch. Jaafar Jackson is mesmerising as Michael, as is Juliano Valdi as the younger version. Clearly, both have spent many hours poring over videos of Jackson, and got his movements absolutely spot on.

The elephant in the room is the film that some critics clearly thought this should be. The allegations have been extensively covered in documentaries elsewhere, and Michael focuses its spotlight on Jackson's difficult childhood (or more accurately, absense of any form of normal childhood), and the crafting of every part of his solo act, from mesmerising videos that he demanded MTV play to his chronic insecurity about his looks, that resulted in extensive cosmetic surgery. The Pepsi commercial that went disastrously wrong made me shrink in my seat, as I remembered what was about to happen.

I was expecting to write this off as a fluffy piece of filmmaking, but instead am left hoping part two will be made, as it ends rather abruptly just as the Bad album is taking off and Jackson tours it. KeiLyn Durrel Jones is a standout as Jackson's bodyguard Bill Bray, and Miles Teller is decent too. Whilst it felt a tiny bit like a TV movie at times, it was incredibly entertaining, and celebrated a back catalogue of some frankly amazing songs that have stood the test of time. I think the moral arguments can be left for another day, although I will admit some of the scenes which depicted Jackson visiting sick kids in hospital felt a bit too close to depicting him as a saint.

In other film news this week, the new Devil Wears Prada 2 sequel hits cinemas this weekend, which I'm looking forward to watching, and I'll have a review next week of a new subtitled horror called Exit 8, about a man trapped in an endless subway tunnel. Streaming wise, I can highly recommend Crime 101, which has just arrived on Amazon Prime Video, set along Highway 101 as police attempt to track down a cool-headed jewel thief, and several characters get in his way with their own agendas. It's well plotted and contains some spectcular car chase sequences. I'll also be watching Mother Mary this week, starring Anne Hathaway as a Lady Gaga type pop star who is on the eve of a big comeback. A review to follow next time.

Seen Michael? Agree or disagree with my positive assessment? Let me know!