Thriller, Black or White, Billie Jean, Beat It…These titles have become timeless masterpieces of music. With Michael Jackson's This is it, it's an opportunity to see the master of pop music in his natural element: a concert stage. A posthumous documentary in the form of a tribute to be found on Netflix.
Unpublished images of an aborted concert
On June 25, 2009, the whole world lost one of its biggest stars: Michael Jackson, the king of pop, disappeared in preparation for a series of concerts he was to give in London and which then promised to be a last lap of the track for the American artist. This announcement had the effect of a global shock that will remain engraved in the memory of millions of people. It's quite simple: everyone remembers what he was doing when he learned of Michael Jackson's death. Shortly after his death, it was decided that a documentary about "This is it", the concerts he was preparing, would be made for a theatrical release. This documentary, broadcast posthumously, returns to the creative process until the rehearsals of what was to be a show in the image of MJ: disproportionate and extraordinary.
All his life, Michael Jackson has been the subject of rumors and the end of his life was no exception. The media expressed doubts about his ability to honour his commitment and offer something worthy of what he was. For the press, the singer gave the image of a rusty artist, losing inspiration and not far from being completely has-been. But Michael Jackson's This is it shows just the opposite: throughout the rehearsals, we can see that he had lost none of his beauty whether in singing or dancing. Michael Jackson was still involved in his art and had lost none of his talent.
A concert that promised to be grandiose
For his big return to the stage, the King of Pop had seen things big as he had always done. With Michael Jackson, the word "show" was not overused.Visual and stage effects were planned as well as the shooting of new clips of his greatest hits especially for "This is it". More than just a performer, the American was a real conductor teeming with ideas and advising the dancers and musicians who surrounded him on stage. Michael Jackson's This is it shows him inspired and inspiring.
The documentary shows Michael Jackson repeating several of his greatest titles because This is it promised to be a best-of concert. A way for him to formalize his farewell to the stage and to propose one last big show. 50 concerts were planned at the O2 Arena in London.
Nevertheless, we can ask ourselves the question of respect for the artist by releasing this documentary only a few months after his death. Voices have been raised to denounce the mercantile side of the exploitation of rehearsal rushes. In addition, releasing it without the approval of the main interested party is not something honest and the singer would certainly refuse to see his image used in this way. Nevertheless, the documentary is very successful in the sense that it shows Michael Jackson still performing and creative. Kenny Ortega, its director, was also involved in the preparations for the concert since he choreographed it. His film pays a beautiful tribute to his friend.
Michael Jackson's This is it is a beautiful documentary that focuses on the exceptional artist that was Michael Jackson. Concerts that will never take place and that promised to be in the continuity of the previous shows of the king of pop. Gone too soon.
