Is Michael Jackson’s “This is It” Up to the Hype?

By Sarah Matheny on October 28th, 2009

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This morning, thousands of theaters across the country began screening the new Michael Jackson film, This Is It. Though the film is dubbed a “concert film,” it is more realistically called a “rehearsal film,” as all 112 minutes of the movie are comprised of Jackson’s rehearsals for his huge comeback tour that never will be.

Responses of Michael Jackson fans and beneficiaries of his estate range from thrilled to unsure. This chance to see “The King of Pop” in his “zone”: singing, dancing, creating on stage, unguarded and as real as anyone might ever see this enigmatic personality is rare. Still, Jackson’s unexpected death is still fresh on many people’s minds.

Perhaps that’s why when I first heard that this film was being made, I saw it as a desperate attempt to cash in on Jackson’s death. The film stands to bring in some serious income in its’ two week run. The company responsible for the ill-fated concert, AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group), sold the footage of the rehearsals to Sony and Jackson’s estate for a reported $60 million, easily covering their initial $30 million dollar investment.

I also questioned whether Jackson would even want this film to be seen by his fans. As evidenced by his stellar showmanship, as well as his outlandish theatrics off of the stage, it was clear that Jackson liked to put on a show. To expose his rehearsals and those moments when he is not100% portraying the stage persona is akin to a magician telling the secret to his best trick. However, upon reflection, I’m convinced Jackson would want his music, his blood, sweat and tears and his performances, be they rehearsals or million dollar effect extravaganzas, to live on.

Early reviews from notable sources, like CNN and Entertainment Weekly are favorable, calling the film, “a triumph” and “raw and endearing.” For a man who lived his life longing for the spotlight and his privacy, being heroicized and vilified, and rarely seen without the pretense of a performance, in This Is It we might get a clearer picture of who he was.