Review: This Is It (Film)

Michael Jackson lived a life of brilliance, scandal and secrecy even until his last breath. This Is It is one of the few glimpses of the creative drive behind the music that made the King of Pop famous the world over.

2009 was supposed to be the year of Jackson's return to the public eye and the reclaiming of his status of the greatest entertainer of all time after a self imposed hibernation following his trial for child molestation. A set 50 shows was announced for the 02 arena in London last March where MJ made his final public appearance before a crowd of eager fans.

Many skeptics wondered if Jackson was up to the challenge of playing such a rigorous set of shows. The performer's health, mental status, age and talent level were all scrutinized and questioned in the months leading up to the performances. Could someone who had fallen so far from grace put together the mother of all comebacks? The world waited with baited breath to find out.

When Jackson tragically passed away of cardiac arrest on June 25, the tour was only 8 days removed from traveling from to London to begin the last set of rehearsals for the tour. This Is It is a collection of rehearsal footage pieced together after the singer's death.

Jackson claimed that he "wanted to take people to different wolds and show them things they've only seen in their dreams" - ya know, the usual things he'd always claimed he wanted to do. While this concert would not have been an out of body experience, This Is It definitely would have been an exciting concert performance.

With a stage show that included a giant robotic "mirror man" in which MJ would enter the arena, a cherry picker that would carry Jackson over the audience, a 3D "Thriller" sequence, made for Hollywood vignettes that introduced many of the songs, and a full size bulldozer (yes a bulldozer), nothing was too extravagant for this show (much like nothing was extravagant for Jackson's life).

At 50 years old, Jackson's dance skills and vocal capacity are surprisingly still in tact. The choreography by MJ is one of the highlights of This Is It as his moves still amaze and dazzle (especially this plane jane white boy). There is lip syncing (as is to be expected) on songs "They Don't Care About Us", "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal" which takes the sparkle and the genuineness out of the performance.

However the majority of the tunes still sound as fresh as the year they were released. "Human Nature" is the gem of the film as Jackson perfectly balances grace and grit in both his body and his voice. His sultry falsetto sounds like 1982 all over again and really brings out the smoothness and longing in the song.

"The Way You Make Me Feel" sees a nice reworking that features a slow swing opening which eventually kicks into the upbeat groove the song is famous for. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" is a surprisingly well performed duet with backup singer Judith Hill where Michael has some fun with his vocals and shows off, rather bashfully, for the cameras.

"Billie Jean" is simply a vehicle for Michael's unique dance skills as Jackson mimes his mouth to a backing track. He may not be as quick footed as he was at the peak of his fame, but that can be forgiven when you are half a century in age - not to mention incredibly frail and addicted to medications. "Beat It" still maintains its rock n roll crunch as guitarist Orianthi Panagaris destroys the guitar solo that was originally played by shred master Eddie Van Halen.

Aside from the obvious star of the film, This Is It does a fine job of going behind the scenes and showing the technical side of the show. Dancers, musicians, stage hands, directors and producers all receive screen time and their talents are on display as well. One of the more definitive scenes features Jackson discussing musical arrangement with the band director Michael Dearden. Here MJ is more than just a performer, he's an impeccable creator with a knack for perfection. No musical detail is too small to ignore. Whether it's harmonies for backing vocals or what kind of setting to use on the keyboard, everything is inspected with a fine tooth comb

However something feels like it's missing. Yes the movie goes beyond the performances and delves into what it takes to pull something of this size and scope off, but it never gets inside the head of Jackson himself. I suppose I shouldn't hold the film responsible for any misgivings simply because this movie was never even supposed to be made. The film footage was for Jackson's personal library instead of our viewing pleasure. Sadly This Is It is as close as we're ever going to get to experiencing what Jackson wanted to share with the world.

All in all the film is a splendid display for Jackson's vision for his music. Some may walk away disappointed if their expectations are set too high. This is not a pop version of The Kids Are Alright or a light hearted parody of Some Kind Of Monster, however This Is It is still a worthy rockumentary if not spectacular.