Reviews for October 28th, 2009
This Is It
Directed by Kenny Ortega.
This captivating documentary follows singer/songwriter/dancer Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, as he rehearsed for 50 sold-out concerts that would have taken place at the O2 Arena in London early this past summer. He performs songs such as “Thriller,” “I’ll Be There,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Bad,” and others that will make avid fans of his sing along and perhaps even clap and cheer with excitement at hearing all of the beautiful lyrics. It’s amazing that the behind-the-scenes filmed footage was never actually intended to be shown to a public audience. Director Kenny Ortega, who also directed the High School Musical films as well as Newsies, has done an expert job at sorting through over 100 hours of footage to find the most engaging ones that capture your heart and even make you laugh a bit when it comes to Michael Jackson’s comments during the rehearsals. For instance, it’s amusing to watch him respond firmly yet politely to musical director/keyboardist Michael Beardon when he tries to make a minor change to the tempo of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” Although you never truly get to know Michael Jackson during those moments, at least you’re able to catch a glimpse of his true personality behind the curtain of fame. One of the most moving, beautiful songs which might bring tears to your eyes is “Earth Song,” which combines with breathtaking images of the Earth and nature. Ortega also adds a healthy dose of humor by means of a clever insertion of Michael Jackson into scenes from the classic film Gilda. Instead of delving into the controversies of Jackson’s life and his tragic death, he wisely focuses the entire documentary on Michael Jackson’s rehearsals while ever so slightly humanizing him in a way that has never been seen before. At a running time of 112 minutes, This Is It manages to be a thoroughly captivating, well-edited and heartfelt documentary that must be experienced on the big screen. Avid Michael Jackson fans will cherish it forever. Please be sure to stay through the end credits for additional footage. Number of times I checked my watch: 1 Released by Columbia Pictures. Opens nationwide. 
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