Michael's film captivates as a poignant eulogy

At the Movies

By Senitra Horbrook

Judging by the singing and dancing in Michael Jackson's This is It, there is no indication that the 50-year-old performer wasn't still at the top of his game.

The movie is supremely successful in convincing the audience that his planned 50 concerts in London would have been great, had Jackson lived to perform them. The entertainer's unexpected death in June occurred less than three weeks before the concert series was to debut.

Instead, director Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) had the task of combing through more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage to put together Michael Jackson's This is It, a full-length feature film.

People had speculated for years about Jackson's health and his pale, frail figure, but footage from the rehearsals indicates he had as much energy as the backup dancers who were half his age.

The movie is filled with the signature songs and dance moves that made Jackson a household name. There's everything from Wanna Be Startin' Something to Man in the Mirror, interspersed with a few of his Jackson 5 hits like I Want You Back and I'll Be There.

The highlights here are Thriller, Beat It and Smooth Criminal. Original dance moves from the 1980s videos for the songs are performed with precision. During Smooth Criminal, Jackson is digitally added to a black-and-white vignette featuring Rita Hayworth and Humphrey Bogart.

The film's one lowlight is Earth Song. The movie starts to feel a bit long by this point, and listening to Jackson's voiceovers about saving the Earth feel over the top.

Some of the footage wasn't shot in high definition, and it shows. Jackson also wasn't performing full-out, saying numerous times that he was conserving his voice. This made the few moments when he actually let loose really special - the footage from the ballad I Just Can't Stop Loving You a case in point.

This is It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of putting together a concert, and especially at Jackson's perfectionist personality. It doesn't spend much time bogged down in technicalities, but the audience does get glimpses of Jackson's personality between songs.

It is quite moving to watch Jackson gently encourage his musicians, dancers and backup singers while also demanding the best they have to give. One moment in particular is when he tells his amazing young female guitarist that it is her time to shine. "Shine" is exactly what she does during her solo on Beat It.

There are a few moments that will bring a smile to your face, like when he tells the musicians to "let it sizzle" and when he coos like a child on an amusement-park ride while being elevated on a cherry-picker - in this case, a fancy lift.

More footage of Jackson's quirks might have made things more interesting, but This is It is definitely for the fans. The film serves as a bittersweet reminder of why Jackson was hailed as the King of Pop, and will continue to be long after his death.

Movie Grade: B+