The film, directed by Antoine Fuqua from a John Logan script, chronicles Michael Jackson's career from his time with the Jackson 5 in the 1960s to his solo ventures. Before its release, the project was expected to portray his journey to becoming one of the greatest entertainers of all time. However, after early screenings in the US on 21/4, the film received a 36% rotten score from 126 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and 40/100 points on Metacritic.

Trailer for "Michael", released domestically on 26/4. The film is suitable for viewers under 13 with an accompanying guardian. *Video: Universal Pictures Vietnam*

Many critics expressed disappointment that the storyline failed to explore Michael's complexities. Robert Daniels of RogerEbert.com rated the film one out of four stars, noting that the superficial character development prevented the work from portraying Michael as a creative artist or a complex individual.

The initial 20 minutes of the film rapidly jump from 1966 – when the Jackson group began touring – to 1968, when Motown Records discovered them at the Regal Theater in Chicago, US, and then to their first recordings in 1969. This rushed pacing overlooks important aspects, such as father Joe Jackson having his teenage children perform in clubs, or Michael singing love songs unsuitable for his age.

Robert Daniels wrote, "Michael is not artistically unique, fails to generate immediate interest, and isn't groundbreaking. It's too safe and lacks any challenging storytelling".

Jaafar Jackson's portrayal in the film "Michael." *Photo: Lionsgate*

BBC rated it one out of five stars, describing the film as bland, "like a daytime TV show". According to critic Nicholas Barber, the work deliberately omits potentially controversial details and concludes the story in the 1980s, before child abuse allegations against Michael Jackson emerged. "Jackson always yearned to create spectacular and groundbreaking entertainment. Yet, the film lacks that spirit", Barber commented.

Several film review sites, including IGN and IndieWire, suggested the film made the portrayal of the "King of Pop" boring. Empire called it a formulaic music biopic, lacking highlights.

The music is a rare highlight. According to USA Today, classic songs like "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Thriller", and "Ben" are presented with vibrant sound quality. Jaafar Jackson's performance – Michael's nephew – received praise for recreating his uncle's image, from dance moves to demeanor, recalling the golden era of his career in the 1980s.

According to New Yorker, controversies surrounding the film's content reflect changes in the script's structure. Before its release, "Michael" underwent a period of content rewrites and additional filming, costing approximately 15 million USD.

"Thriller" music video from Michael Jackson's album of the same name, produced by "music mogul" Quincy Jones. *Video: YouTube Michael Jackson*

In the original version, the film opened in 1993 with police raiding Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch after he was accused of sexually abusing Jordan Chandler. The story then flashed back to recount the pop star's life, leading back to the Chandler family lawsuit. Jackson settled the case with a 23 million USD compensation before the investigation closed due to the Chandler family ceasing cooperation with prosecutors.

However, in the final cut, all details related to Jordan Chandler and the allegations from his family were removed. According to Variety, the reason is believed to be that the Jackson family's lawyers discovered a settlement agreement clause prohibiting the depiction or mention of Chandler in any film. Consequently, the opening scene with the Neverland raid was cut. In an interview with New Yorker, director Antoine Fuqua stated he did not believe Michael Jackson committed the alleged acts, despite multiple accusers and the singer himself admitting to sharing a bed with young boys.

Michael Jackson (1958-2009) was born into a family of 10 siblings. He began his music career at 11 years old, joining The Jackson 5, and started his solo career in 1987. In November 1982, Michael released "Thriller" – an album recognized by Guinness World Records as the best-selling of all time.

Throughout his career, the artist won 13 Grammy Awards and six Billboard Awards. He also received the AMAs Artist of the Century award and the Bambi award honoring the Pop Artist of the Millennium. On 25/6/2009, he passed away at his Neverland ranch in California, US, due to acute propofol intoxication leading to respiratory failure.

Cat Tien (via Deadline, Variety, New Yorker)