This Is It

Director: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Michael Jackson, Kenny Ortega
Running Time: 112 mins
Certificate: PG

18 days. That was all that stood between Michael Jackson and a glorious pop comeback at O2 in Greenwich in the summer. The King of Pop was supposed to Moonwalk, grab his crotch, reunite with his brothers and bring closure to the most scintillating and extraordinary pop career since Elvis. Tragically, as we already know, ill health robbed the singer of his final chance to remind the world that there was more to him than pet chimps, controversial court cases and a defunct theme park. Kenny Ortega, the choreographer/director of the proposed 'This Is It' jaunt, was filming rehearsals and interviews during the build up to the shows to give Jackson footage for his personal archives. Determined to not let Jacko's final work go to waste, Ortega has cobbled together that footage to create a lasting testament to Michael Jackson The Popstar.

After a series of sycophantic messages from Jackson's backing dancers, where they all unsurprisingly reveal that working with the 'Thriller' star is all they have ever dreamed of, This Is It begins properly with the singer taking to the stage for 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin''. It would have been the opening number on the tour and it provides a suitably thrilling introduction to the world Jackson occupied in his final days. Over the next 112 minutes, Ortega brings us versions of Jackson's best ('Thriller', 'Billie Jean') and worst material ('Earth Song') in various stages of completion.

For those interested in the more morbid side of the story and the circus and conspiracies around his death, Jackson's vocal and physical abilities appear to be in relatively good health. Aged 50 and worryingly thin, not surprisingly, he falls short of his groundbreaking 'Dangerous' and 'Bad' world tours. However, there are moments, such as a stripped-back one-take run through of 'Billie Jean', a furious 'jacket on fire' crescendo to 'Beat It' and a black and white movie-intro for 'Smooth Criminal', which prove that Jackson still had more star quality and charisma than a million Simon Cowell factory-line production pop singers.

Equally impressive, is the ambition of Jackson and Ortega's stage show. A tinge of sadness runs through the film because of the fact that this show - potentially one of the grandest and most visually stunning concerts of all time - never got to see the light of day. The updated 3D intro and flying ghosts on 'Thriller', the greenscreen marching army backdrop for 'They Don't Care About Us', the stunning live band and array of the world's most talented dancers working in sync with Jackson would surely have raised the bar further than even the King of Pop had been before.

However, it is the interludes and vignettes between the performances, which really make this film essential viewing. We see Jackson as a perfectionist, a generous boss, a tough taskmaster and a playful child. Off guard and probably unaware that it would ever be seen by the public, we find Jackson pushing his band and production team to the limit with demands to "let it sizzle" and "make the music simmer". Obsessive Jacko fans may be shocked by his Diva-ish behaviour as he complains about ear-pieces, but it's heartening to finally view the late singer as a rounded human with regular failings and imperfections. Similarly a scene featuring Jackson screaming "weeeee!" with childish glee as he moves around the stage on a giant cherry-picker, will surely bring a smile to even the most cynical viewer.

If your grandchildren ever ask you what was so great about Michael Jackson, then give them a copy of Thriller and let them figure it out for themselves. However, if they want to know whether the rumours were true about him being a freak and a weirdo, then show them this film. Difficult, odd, kind, obsessive and funny, This Is It finally offers us a very brief glimpse of the real Michael Jackson.


> What do you think of This Is It? Share your views