Spotlight REVIEW Review: ‘Michael’ biopic glosses over pop star’s faults Bruce R. Miller Lee Enterprises Apr 30, 2026 Apr 30, 2026 Updated Jul 30, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Diana Ross and Janet Jackson are nowhere to be found in the new Michael Jackson biography, “Michael.”kAmz6J >@>6?ED :? E96 D:?86C’D =:76 2C6 23D6?E[ E@@[ 3FE E92E’D E@ 36 6IA64E65 4@?D:56C:?8 72>:=J >6>36CD AC@5F465 E96 7:=>] w6C6[ E96 DE@CJ :D 7@4FD65 @? 9:D C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 9:D 525[ y@D6A9 y24<D@? WH9@’D ?:46=J A=2J65 3J r@=>2? s@>:?8@X] s25 :D 56>2?5:?8[ A6EEJ 2?5 4@?EC@==:?8[ 2 3:E =:<6 r@=@?6= !2C<6C :? t=G:D’ =:76]k^Am Jaafar Jackson stars as his uncle Michael Jackson in the musical biopic "Michael." Lionsgate kAm|:4926=’D BF:C<D — :?4=F5:?8 A=2DE:4 DFC86CJ — 2C6 3CFD965 @77 @C 8=@DD65 @G6C] tG6? qF33=6D[ E96 >@?<6J[ :D D66? 2D 2? @C:8:?2= 49@:46 7@C 2 A6E[ ?@E 2 92C5 “?@” 2D :E :D :? >@DE 72>:=:6D]k^Am kAmx7 J@F C625 36EH66? E96 =:?6D[ J@F 42? D66 E92E y@6 y24<D@? C62=:K65 E96 56AE9 @7 9:D D@?’D E2=6?E 2?5 H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ =6E :E H2?56C] w6 E2<6D 2 5:> G:6H @7 @FED:56CD 2?5[ ;FDE H96? |:4926= D66>D =:<6 2 D@=:5 D@=@ 24E[ 96 :?D:DED @? 7@C4:?8 E96 72>:=J @? 9:>]k^Am People are also reading… Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth School Board honors educator who builds on student strengths Smyth County considers permit for second battery energy storage facility Social worker issues appeal for more foster families Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use Legislators honor T-Bone Lewis, present General Assembly resolution Verizon wants to hang up on landlines, but some customers aren’t so sure Smyth supervisor, school board member unite to host forum on 1% sales tax referendum Where to find food and drink deals for Halloween Serial killer Ted Bundy linked to murder of Utah police chief's 17-year-old daughter Unflappable: QB Grunkemeyer setting the tone for Virginia Tech Grant allows Chilhowie PD to put AED in each police vehicle Morgan to discuss his new book on SWVA's rich biodiversity at Saltville museum Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in "Michael." Lionsgate kAmx? 2 D46?6 WH:E9 |:<6 |J6CD 2D 2 C64@C5 6I64X[ H6 =62C? |%' 5:5?’E H2?E q=24< 24ED @? :ED ?6EH@C<] p E9C62E E@ AF== 9:D =236=’D DE2CD[ 9@H6G6C[ 8@E |:4926= E96 6IA@DFC6 96 ?66565 E@ 364@>6 >@C6 E92? ;FDE 2?@E96C |@E@H? AC@A6CEJ]k^AmkAms:C64E@C p?E@:?6 uFBF2 @776CD A=6?EJ @7 AC@5F4E:@? ?F>36CD 2?5 D9@HD 9@H |:4926= D@F89E :?AFE 7C@> F?=:<6=J D@FC46D] %96 “%9C:==6C” >@>6?ED 2C6 E92E — E9C:==:?8] p?5 y2272C y24<D@?[ 2D E96 @=56C |:4926=[ 5@6D :?4C65:3=6 H@C< 3C:?8:?8 9:D C62=\=:76 F?4=6 E@ E96 D4C66?] w6 42? 5FA=:42E6 E96 52?46D 2?5 D6== E96 @55:E:6D]k^Am Jaafar Jackson stars as his uncle Michael Jackson and recreates Jackson's historic "Thriller" video in "Michael." Glen Wilson, Lionsgate kAm(9:=6 }:2 {@?8 =@@<D =:<6 |:4926=’D >@E96C[ z2E96C:?6[ D96 5@6D?’E A@D6 >F49 @7 2 E9C62E E@ y@6’D 56>2?5D] %96 7@FC 24E@CD H9@ A=2J 9:D 3C@E96CD 5@?’E C68:DE6C A6CD@?2=:E:6D 2?5 {2 %@J2 :D D:DE6C\=6DD[ 7@C D@>6 C62D@?]k^Am kAmu2?D H:== =@G6 86EE:?8 42F89E FA :? E96 >FD:4] xE 92D 2 8@@5 362E[ 2D E96J FD65 E@ D2J @? “p>6C:42? q2?5DE2?5[” 2?5 J@F 42? 52?46 E@ :E] qFE E96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J “@E96C” DE@C:6D E92E 8@ F?E@=5[ :E’D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ 25>:E E9:D :D E96 7:?2= D2J] W%96 7:=> 6G6? DF886DED E96C6’D 2 D6BF6= 4@>:?8]Xk^Am The movie "Michael" ends in the late '80s and does not address the sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. Glen Wilson, Lionsgate kAmr9:=5 >@=6DE2E:@? 492C86D 2C6?’E 255C6DD65] x?DE625[ H6 D66 2 |:4926= H9@ DE:== =:G6D H:E9 9:D A2C6?ED[ 3FJD D425D @7 E@JD WD@>6 7@C 9@DA:E2=:K65 49:=5C6?X 2?5 <66AD E@ 9:>D6=7] |2CC:286D 2?5 49:=5C6? 2C6?’E 96C6j ==2>2D 2?5 8:C2776D C@2> E96 72>:=J J2C5]k^Am kAmy2722C y24<D@? 5@6D 2 8C62E ;@3 A@=:D9:?8 |:4926=’D C6AFE2E:@?] |2<6FA 96=AD 2AAC@I:>2E6 E96 G:DF2= 492?86D[ =:89ED 2?5 D6ED >2<6 J@F 766= =:<6 J@F’C6 H2E49:?8 E96 ':4E@CJ %@FC]k^Am kAm“|:4926=[” 9@H6G6C[ :D?’E E96 7:=> J@F E9@F89E J@F H6C6 86EE:?8] {:<6 “t=G:D” 2?5 “q24< E@ q=24<[” :E C6HC:E6D 9:DE@CJ :? 2 H2J E92E @?=J 6>3C246D E96 8@@5]k^Amk2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\:?7@Qmk9cmU=DBF@j|:4926=UCDBF@jk^9cmkAmkDEC@?8m#2E65ik^DEC@?8m !v\`b 7@C D@>6 G:@=6?46[ 25F=E D:EF2E:@?Dk^Am kAmkDEC@?8m$E2CDik^DEC@?8m a DE2CDk^Am kAmkDEC@?8mqCF46’D %2<6ik^DEC@?8m xE’D 3@F?4J[ ?@E 4@>A=6E6]k^Amk^2D:56m 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Coming soon: Historical drama, sequels, blockbusters fill summer movie bill Here's a look at what's ahead for the summer movie season. In indie thriller 'Neglected,' David Lipper wears every hat David Lipper wrote, produced and stars in the new thriller, “Neglected,” but “that’s the beauty of independent film,” he says. Review: Lee Cronin has a different idea about ‘The Mummy’ than you do “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” goes all in on shock — and leaves more questions than answers. Review: Richard Gadd molds an ever-shifting ‘Half Man’ Do we stay the same throughout life, or do we morph? 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Coming soon: Historical drama, sequels, blockbusters fill summer movie bill Here's a look at what's ahead for the summer movie season.
In indie thriller 'Neglected,' David Lipper wears every hat David Lipper wrote, produced and stars in the new thriller, “Neglected,” but “that’s the beauty of independent film,” he says.
Review: Lee Cronin has a different idea about ‘The Mummy’ than you do “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy” goes all in on shock — and leaves more questions than answers.
Review: Richard Gadd molds an ever-shifting ‘Half Man’ Do we stay the same throughout life, or do we morph? Richard Gadd, the creator of “Baby Reindeer,” poses the question repeatedly in his new, s…
Review: ‘Testaments’ moves more fluidly than ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ In “The Testaments,” the sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale,” the plums and pearls at the preparatory school run by Aunt Lydia are training to bec…
Review: Meryl Streep conjures fun in smart ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ "It was worth the 20-year wait to get a 'Devil Wears Prada' sequel," Bruce Miller writes in his review.
Leaning in: Josh Duhamel finds plenty to relate to in ‘Neglected’ Playing a detective on his last day of work, Josh Duhamel has the ultimate assignment: Find his son before he runs out of oxygen.
Review: ‘Is God Is’ probes frightening story of family Inner conversations between twin sisters lift “Is God Is” to another level — one where you understand why people do bizarre things.
The celebrity game: ‘Gail Daughtry’ lets actors spoof the business and its spoils More than three decades in the entertainment industry helped David Wain and Ken Marino stuff their film, “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex …
