Michael – The King of Pop in 4K: Myth and Reality

The biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua retraces part of Michael Jackson's life, from his childhood spent with his brothers under the guidance of his father Joe to his transformation into a global pop phenomenon. The narrative spans the Jackson 5, his desire for a solo career, and some of the most famous moments of his ascent. However, the result remains less incisive when it tries to go beyond the public persona to tell the story of the person behind the myth.

The most successful part concerns the family. The relationship with his father Joseph “Joe” Jackson allows the film to show a young Michael, marked by an authoritarian and violent figure, with his mother being one of the few points of reference outside the obligation of total dedication to music. When the narrative moves away from the family environment, it often proceeds episodically, focusing on the most well-known stages of his career.

More Jackson on Stage than in Life

It is especially in the musical sequences that Michael finds its dimension. Fuqua films the performances with energy and great attention to staging, but behind those images often remains a figure difficult to grasp. Fears, fragilities, personal relationships, and drug dependence are only marginally addressed, leaving in the background precisely the complexity that could have given greater depth to the narrative.

On the performance front, however, the greatest satisfactions arrive. Colman Domingo is remarkable as “Joe” Jackson, while Jaafar Jackson surprises with his stage presence and ability to reproduce his uncle's gestures and movements. The young Juliano Valdi is also very convincing. In Italian, the film risks slipping in part due to the questionable choice of pairing a voice actor with a voice similar to that of the real Michael, which at times appears caricatural. A different approach to characterization could have been attempted; ideally, the film would not have been dubbed, but in Italy, that would have been a commercial suicide.

Michael remains primarily a musical spectacle and a tribute to the artist's career, while the personal portrait is inevitably more nuanced. Rewatching it on Home Video allows for a more in-depth re-reading, leaving the feeling of a partially missed opportunity. A sequel is in preparation. Here is Elisa Giudici's in-depth artistic review.

Hybrid Film Material

Hybrid shooting, primarily digital at native resolution 5.8K, 8.6K (Sony CineAlta Venice 2), with 16mm (Canon Scoopic 16) and 35mm (Panavision Panaflex) inserts, and a final 4K master. Original image format 1.85:1 (3840 x 2160/23.97p), HEVC encoding on triple-layer BD-100. The analog-digital material can be perceived in the variations of background grain. Curiously, the most marked differences are also felt in the digital scenes, where at times it increases significantly, especially in the sequences set in the hospital after the Pepsi commercial accident.

The first part maintains a less brilliant color palette, dominated by the browns of the Jackson house, while the band's entrance on stage radically changes the visual impact. It is especially the red of the performances that benefits from HDR, complete with Dolby Vision for greater fidelity to the cinematographer's choices. Very high detail enhancing sets and costumes, deep blacks, while some less convincing digital effects are more evident in UHD.

Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 channels (754 kbps) for an acceptable Italian track, though limited in offering a broad and dynamic soundstage, between live moments and studio recordings, with relatively deep bass. The original Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (24 bit) with ATMOS objects is the preferred track, making a difference especially in live scenes. The audience invades the rear channels and contributes to effectively recreating the atmosphere of the shows, while the vertical speakers also intervene in quieter scenes, with discreet yet perceptible effects. Similarly, the bass is fuller.

Rather rich extra features. The highlight is the making-of, lasting almost an hour, with backstage footage and interviews. This is followed by a visit to the Jackson villa in Encino and an interesting in-depth look at the makeup used to transform the actors into the characters of Michael and Joe.

The package is completed by several short contributions dedicated to Jaafar Jackson, the impact of the Jacksons on pop culture, and the filming process on set, with additional behind-the-scenes images and the participation of Prince Jackson, totaling approximately 18 minutes. Italian subtitles. The Italian 4K edition is currently only available as a steelbook.