Man In The Mirror on VH1

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:43 pm

Just got through watching the Michael Jackson movie on VH1 and I have to say I was impressed with the film.
It was kinda slainted towards Michael's favor but I thought it was also very honest in it's portrayal. The director Allan Moyle should be commended for how he took on what could've easily been another cheesy biopic and made something that gave us an "inside" look at this mega-superstar's world.
He shot it all in hand held angles which gave it a home movie feel and like you were witnessing this happening.
Flex Alexander did an excellent job and suprised the shit out of me in playing Michael. Somehow he managed to really capture the spirit of Michael and gave a good dramatic performance instead of a cheap imitation.
The whole cast did really well and were well cast and most of the people looked like the people they were playing.
I also thought it would be lost without Michael's music in there but that was what it exactly needed. Once you strip away all the fame, hype and what the public already knows about Michael, you get a portrait of a very isolated, lonely, sad individual who has experienced more pain and sacrifice than we would ever want to. That's not to justify or say he is innocent of what he's being accused of. But now i have a better understanding of how someone can end up with that kind of stunted mentality.
The film was well thought out and structured in a way where you get to the person of Michael jackson, not the superstar. The superstar angle is a small sidenote and it was smart to keep it that way. It really uncovered some things I wanted to know like how did Michael feel after he saw the Sept 11 disaster and knowing that some of those people that probably died had attended his 30th anniversary show the very night before. Also, the scene with Lisa Marie and her kids at the dining room table of Neverland after she marries him and the kids asking to go home is gut wrenchingly sad to watch. The music that was featured was all original and very well done for a TV film. I almost hope they release a soundtrack to it. I walked away with a better understanding of how Michael ended up like he did and with all his fame & power, it couldn't & won't buy love. It was an interesting underlying plot point that through most of the movie, Michael is running & in fear and at the end of the movie, he says in a voiceover that he's not running anymore and he's going to confront his fears and that love is stronger than fear. I hope he's right.
I also hope if he walks away from this next battle he finally comes to terms with himself and tries to seriously live a different kind of life style than he's currently living. For his own good. We'll see.
The movie plays again tomorrow & Sunday at 9pm. Check it out if you already haven't.

YouTube · Post by **bingolong** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:09 pm

dougdigitalpro,

Yeah it was MJ night at VH1!!!I watched some of the 30th anniversay special to see him and his brothers.They were supposed to show the Bashir interview tonight to but the scheldule was screwed!My cable programming guide says its supposed to be on now but oh well....

I feel you on the soundtrack I thought it was some of Mikes stuff.I also feel you about Lisa Marie kids.Some of the early stuff in the movie like the Thriller video disclaimer and Jehovah Witness added alot to his story also.

Trudy,
Come on you know you love you the "lil bit country a lil bit rock-n-roll" of the Osmonds!!!!

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:12 pm

astonamous,

Yeah, I've been told I have a flair for reviewing movies. Maybe one day. Thanks.

Trudy, you GOT to get rid of the Bush getting boogers avatar. That is insane! LMAO

Calgon, take him away!!!!!

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 6:15 pm

bingolong,
I thought they pulled the Bashir thing because it's now considered official evidence in the trial. It was weird seeing the 30th anniversary show and then seeing it dramatized in the movie. Freaky! Yeah, that music they used was really nice and fit the story.

YouTube · Post by **bingolong** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 6:52 am

For anyone interested it's on now!!!

YouTube · Post by **bingolong** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 2:35 pm

dougdigitalpro,
Hey they are now airing the Bashir special again except this time they are blurring the "kid" and his families face and also bleeping his name.

Only one problem.........They showed the "kids" face during the opening credits.....

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 2:43 pm

bingolong,
I'm watching the end of it now, talking about his face. Deep stuff. I'll comment when it's over. Becuase I believe there is a method to the madness of showing all of this.

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 3:36 pm

I swear dude, I just watched that interview again and there's something about it, something about him, that just says he didn't do it. I don't know if it's the fan in me that wants to believe so bad that's he's innocent or what, but the thing you have to notice is he's not dodging anything from Bashir. He's being open and he's not avoiding eye contact when he talks to Bashir about the children. That's not to say he's incapable of lying or hiding the truth but if he's THAT sinister to lie like that about something as serious as that, then this world is in more trouble than we know.
At the end of it all, Michael just seems like a victim himself and the greatest gift he may give this world may not lie in his music but in his exposing the cult of celebrity and bringing it down to a real place.
This trial is going to be a watershed and whatever happens, show business will never be the same after. Now if it's one thing that IS clear is that he is a victim of child abuse and my theory on how he's handled the trauma is to shut it out of his world and life completely. To shroud himself in a mindstate of supposed innocence and not let anyone penetrate it no matter what.
This is why he paid off the other family, this is why he's overcompenasting to children. It seems to be the opposite of what they're saying he's doing, abusing other kids because of the abuse. I just don't buy the allegations until I see some hard evidence and I haven't seen anything pointing to that conclusion yet. They're really basing it on that interview and I think he just opened himself up for the one two punch trying to save his flaggling career. It seems to me that if he's guilty of anything, it's doing whatever it takes to keep his name in the public eye and stay famous and popular.
He really needs to just grow up and confront his painful past and stop running from it which is what I think ultimately Neverland was. The place he could run and hide.

Post by **mojones** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 4:19 pm

dougdigitalpro,

You are exceptional at reviewing movies. Man, you should do it for a living. I definitely got to see this thing. But I differ with you about Jackson's guilt. I suspect he did it. Look at Michael's life! Obviously, he's gay and in denial about it! Homosexuality doesn't make you a pedophile. But denying your sexuality, whatever it may be, will probably result in some form of perversion. Okay, this is all speculation -- a wild ass theory. But think about it.

Remember in the 80's when Mikey was king? He could've had any woman he wanted. Yet, who tickled his fancy? Little boys and animals! You mean to tell me -- there wasn't at least one woman that caught his eye? Man, I see women that turn me on all the time -- even some unattractive women appeal to me on some level. With Mikey? Nothing!

I know he had a horrible childhood. But it just doesn't justify the behavior he has exhibited over the years. I'm highly skeptical that he's innocent. I agree with Bernie Mac who said people defend Michael for sentimental reasons -- but none of us will let him babysit our sons. (paraphrasing)..

Post by **dougdigitalpro** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 4:47 pm

mojones,
LOL. Bernie's probably right. Thanks for the comment on my review. I don't know if you can nail it down because Michael didn't appear to like women. I think he liked women, but he had a skewed view of them. You gotta also note he was a devout jehovah's witness and with girl's chasing him since he was five and his brother's getting married seeming like betrayal to him & the group, there is no way Michael had a normal view of women and how to deal with them. He may be gay, it's not an impossibility, but I'm more prone to believe he's a-sexual. He just doesn't like sex...with anyone. Him being gay wouldn't classify him as being a child molestor, though. His affection for children & animals I believe comes out of his view that these are the only people & things that are truly innocent and non threatening. He feels safe with them.
I think the big mystery is has Michael ever been really intimate with a woman. Could he be sexual with a female, because if he could, then that means he has sexual tendencies and then the next question would be how in control was he of his sexuality. That's what they have to get to the bottom of. And if they find he has truly led a sexless life, then he may just be an a-sexual being and his relationships with those kids are what he says they are. I just know he has to wake up and put his ego in check and know that what he is doing is not normal behavior for someone his age and it is not right, no matter how right it looks in his eyes.