Nur Diyana JohahFans were applauding and catcalling after every number, some even giving a standing ovation, treating the sold-out premiere of Michael Jackson’s This Is It at the Shaw Lido One on Oct 28, like a concert.
“I was very touched by this other side to him,” said Yvonne Wong, a fan who was cheering throughout the movie, “He was very dedicated.”
For fans like Yvonne, it was a chance for her to see her idol as a creative director, a mentor and a music genius, besides the exceptional performer he usually is when he stages a concert.
The movie of Michael rehearsing for his sold-out concert that would’ve been held at The London O2 Arena pre-sold a whopping 22,000 tickets confirmed David Glass, Managing Director of Golden Village Multiplex Pte Ltd.
It kicked off on an emotional note, with a montage of overwhelmed dancers and singers describing how it felt like to have a coveted spot as part of Michael Jackson’s crew. The videos were taken after they were personally selected by Michael for his concert. This was before the global hysteria that came in the wake of his death on Jun 26.
It then segued into a scene where Michael is rehearsing “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, a track off the 1982’s Thriller, this being followed by his other hits such as “They Don’t Care About Us”, “Smooth Criminal” and “Billie Jean”.
Directed by Kenny Ortega, Michael’s creative partner and director-choreographer, the movie showed Michael to be the very picture of a perfectionist and not just a talented performer.
Michael was fussy about the minute details of the performance. Simple things such as his back up singers hand gestures during a number, or their expression were critiqued.
In just 112 minutes, the movie showcased just how physically and emotionally taxing it was for Michael to prepare for his mind-blowing concert.
For instance, in a scene he was seen breathlessly singing, struggling to finish a song from having practised for too long, but he still pushed on. Once he even got frustrated with a malfunctioning earpiece and said, “It feels like someone’s fist is being shoved in my ear,” before continuing practice.
Zaldy, Michael’s personal costume designer said, “Michael Jackson is about pushing boundaries.”
Laced with high-gloss technology, segments of his show such as “They Don’t Care About Us” and “Thriller” were accompanied by extensive visual works and even featured an elaborate graveyard for a majestic stage set. At a point in the concert Michael would emerge from beneath a huge mechanical spider to create a grand entrance.
The star that was described by his crew in the movie as a “hands-on genius” was involved in every aspect of the then upcoming concert, from the making of the 3-D visuals to tuning instruments and directing the concert’s musical tenor.
Notwithstanding the years of not performing, the King of Pop, who was 50 years old, sounded better than he ever did, and was seen energetically keeping up with his dancers, some of whom are less than half his age.
The movie is not, however, just about how much sweat and tears Michael and his crew put into preparing for a concert. Rather, it’s a platform for Michael’s fans to feel closer to him and understand how he really felt about his music.
Michael’s humorous and friendly personality was captured in the film, as he was often seen cracking jokes with his crew. Once when his music director Michael Bearden said a piece needed more “booty”, Michael burst out laughing and responded, “A little more booty, that’s funny.”
Despite many accusations of being childish or having arrested emotional development, he was also seen as a fatherly figure and a mentor to his supporting performers, musicians and production crew.
After a rehearsal, he said, “Everyone is doing a great job. Thank you for your patience and endurance. We are a family. I love you. We will take them places they have never seen before. We want to show them talents we’ve never seen before.”
One thing is sure, fans were really touched by the film. Camilla Lee, said, “Michael had meaningful messages in his songs. They were about love and how we should love nature and everything around us. I feel a little bit closer to him after watching this.”
This was thanks to scrupulous choices made from clips gleaned off recordings amounting to 120 hours. This is a must watch for people who listen to his music and continue to mourn his loss.
As well put together as it was, This Is It is still a sad shadow of what would’ve been a phenomenal concert. The world has missed out on something great with his passing.
This Is It screens in cinemas islandwide from Oct 29 for 2 weeks.