The desire of the filmmakers to keep the musical element of the legend intact and to keep the unsavoury elements of the story so far from the viewers’ minds as to be non-existent is complete. Even the patriarch of the Jackson clan, Joe, is given a relatively smooth ride. This, unfortunately, reduces the story to a one-dimensional misreading of the facts.

That Michael could overcome such a harsh upbringing (for such a sensitive soul) and create the joy that he brought to millions is strongly understated. He did do amazing things and, for a short period of time, was a unifying entity on the world’s stage. Behind the scenes, he also showed a high degree of empathy, but his power and wealth were also used to weaponise his awful intent.

The film is bright (with oversaturated colours and a very loud soundtrack) and touches on storylines very familiar to even the casual observer, but it never treats him more than an uncomfortable entertainer. His ability to create pure joy is sold as a brand. By focusing mostly on the positive, Michael brings the bright lights to a story that deserves more. A life with complexity is reduced to a simple ideology: no mater what, the show must go on.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.

Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut, Nia Long (Empire, The Best Man franchise), Laura Harrier (BlacKkKlansman, Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Juliano Krue Valdi (The Loud House, Arco), with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick, Whiplash) and two-time Academy Award® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the award-winning filmmaker of Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen and The Equalizer franchise, from a screenplay by three-time Academy Award® nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), the film is produced by Academy Award® winner Graham King (The Departed, Bohemian Rhapsody), John Branca (executive producer This Is It, Thriller 40) and John McClain (executive producer This Is It, Michael Jackson Live at Wembley July 16, 1988).

The film is distributed by Lionsgate in North America and Japan (in partnership with Kino Films), and by Universal Pictures internationally.
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Michael is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known.

The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world.

Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins.

Michael stars Jaafar Jackson in his feature film debut, Nia Long (Empire, The Best Man franchise), Laura Harrier (BlacKkKlansman, Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Juliano Krue Valdi (The Loud House, Arco), with Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick, Whiplash) and two-time Academy Award® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the award-winning filmmaker of Training Day, Olympus Has Fallen and The Equalizer franchise, from a screenplay by three-time Academy Award® nominee John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), the film is produced by Academy Award® winner Graham King (The Departed, Bohemian Rhapsody), John Branca (executive producer This Is It, Thriller 40) and John McClain (executive producer This Is It, Michael Jackson Live at Wembley July 16, 1988).
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The story as little as there is revolves around Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) returning to the Top Gun school as an instructor. He is tasked with training his students to succeed in an impossible mission. One he of course gets to eventually participate in and ends up saving the day.

Things have come a long way in both camera technology and special effects since 1986 and the aerial footage is amazing. It adds so much it’s almost a completely different film. No more restricted military stock footage, just widescreen original visuals with Cruise putting himself in harm’s way once again.

The film is disciplined with reality until the final reel and then things take a turn to a decidedly entertainingly level of absurdity. It’s something Cruise and his fans have always been comfortable with. This takes little away from how much fun it is along the way and finds Top Gun: Maverick being an outright blast.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/ParamountPicturesAU/

When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Top Gun: Maverick will be released in Australian cinemas from May 26!

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When casting this story, one that is based on true events, the filmmakers followed the tradition of the funny man and straight guy. No guesses needed to know whom Jonah Hill and Miles Teller end up playing. Hill in particular, returns to a role we’ve seen numerous times before and the unfortunate result is the film ends up playing out like a poor man’s version of The Wolf Of Wall Street.

There are moments of true humour and more than a few situations that are extremely scary but the story sits uncomfortably between those two worlds. Teller is effective and seems to be more and more comfortable trying to carry a film. Cast support is also efficient.

Reading up on the real characters that make up this true-life story, one is left with the feeling that the actual circumstances were not quite as humours as the ones that exist in the film. It seems it might have made a more effective film if it was based more in fact or outright farce.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/roadshow

The story of a young prodigy musician joining a demanding music school and running headlong into its most obsessive teacher becomes the canvas on which actors J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller paint one of the most vibrant images in recent memory. Teller is the obsessive drummer with a fixation on jazz icon Buddy Rich and Simmons, the teacher with an eye on transcendence and the demands to accomplish it.

Compliments also go out to writer – director Damien Chazelle who doesn’t waste a single frame as he lets these two protagonists lock horns and egos. Chazelle has succeeded magnificently in transforming Whiplash from an award winning short film to a long player that if there is any real justice will feature most prominently in next year’s Oscar race.

Few films are truly worthy of receiving such universal acclaim and becoming such a necessity to see for both friends of film and observers of the human condition. Whiplash is must see cinema.

Rob Hudson
www.sonyclassics.com/whiplash/

When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris and will be released in Australian cinemas June 25!
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When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris and will be released in Australian cinemas June 25!
www.facebook.com/ParamountPicturesAU

When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis with Ed Harris and will be released in Australian cinemas June 25, 2020!
www.facebook.com/ParamountPicturesAU