Director Spike Lee, who has worked with Michael Jackson, has his own verdict on the new biopic.
Michael Jackson fans dress up and riot at ‘Michael’ screening
Moonwalks, gloves, and fedoras take over screenings of “Michael,” and fans can’t help but get on their feet and get excited in the theater.
Spike Lee knows Michael Jackson and thinks the critics of his new biopic are getting it all wrong.
In an interview with CNN, the 69-year-old director of the Oscar-winning “Do the Right Thing” praised the movie “Michael” and pushed back against criticism that the film ignored child sexual abuse allegations against the “Bad” singer.
“I saw (‘Michael’) twice,” Lee told CNN. “I love it.”
He added, “If you’re a critic and you’re complaining about other things[that aren’t in the movie]but the movie ends in ’88! And what you’re talking about, the accusations, happened[later]. So you’re criticizing the movie for what you want to put in the movie, and that doesn’t work in the timeline of the movie!”
The film stars Jaafar Jackson, the pop icon’s nephew, and is directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Lee directed the music video for Jackson’s 1996 song “They Don’t Care About Us,” as well as two documentaries about him, “Bad 25” and “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.”
Mr. Lee pointed to the box office success of “Michael,” suggesting that the large audiences proved the critics wrong. “People showed up,” he said. “People all over the world showed their love for Michael.”
Lee added, “I miss Mike. I miss Prince. I mean, they’re my brothers. I worked with both of them. They’re both beautiful, beautiful people.”
“Michael” is the story of the singer’s life from 1966 to 1988 and depicts his rise to solo stardom leading up to the “Bad” tour. The film ends five years before Jackson first faced sexual abuse allegations in 1993, which he denies.
According to reports from Puck and Variety, “Michael” was originally intended to depict Jackson being accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in 1993, but the plot had to be dropped after a legal settlement prohibited Chandler’s accusations from being made into a film. The final version of the film focuses on Jackson’s music and his struggle to assert himself against his abusive father.
Michael was largely panned by critics, many of whom accused the film of whitewashing sexual abuse allegations and overly sanitizing Jackson’s life. However, the film was a huge hit at the box office, setting a record for the biggest opening weekend ever for a music biopic. It has grossed over $400 million worldwide to date.
The ending of “Michael” hints at the production of a sequel that will further explore the singer’s story, but it remains unclear whether this potential second film will address any of the allegations. Jackson was also charged in 2003 with sexually abusing 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. He was acquitted of all charges in 2005.
Colman Domingo, who played Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson in “Michael,” dismissed the allegations against Jackson and defended the film during an April appearance on “Today.”
“We’re focusing on the making of Michael, so it’s an intimate portrayal of who Michael is,” the actor said, adding, “There could be a part two that might deal with some other things that happen after that.”
