Respectful without being mawkish or sentimental, the film is fashioned with the heart Jackson always demanded of himself. It's not a great film, but This Is It is a fabulously entertaining account of somebody striving to be so one last time.
Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:160
Fresh:128
Rotten:32
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: While it may not be the definitive concert film (or the insightful backstage look) some will hope for, Michael Jackson's This Is It packs more than enough entertainment value to live up to its ambitious title.
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
US Box Office: $70,258,545
Synopsis: Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that... Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain. The film will be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing. Tickets for the limited two-week engagement of the film go on sale beginning September 27. --© Sony [More]
Starring: Michael Jackson
Starring: Michael Jackson
Director: Kenny Ortega
Director: Kenny Ortega
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Reviews for Michael Jackson's This Is It
What might have been just a shameless cash-in actually hits the stage as a toe-tapping and eye-opening tribute to the King Of Pop.
It is with a mix of voyeuristic fascination, amazement and poignancy, I watched and loved this unique, spectacular film that invites us for a back-stage peek at the creative process of an enigmatic, eccentric, influential and supremely talented artist
A piecemeal attempt at putting a bow on Michael Jackson's overblown and bankrupt career, this clinical behind-the-scenes collage of the rehearsal process for MJ's doomed London performance schedule is more propaganda than documentary.
As much as This Is It recalls Jackson's genius, it perpetuates the exploitation that shaped his life.
Now, when I see and hear the fan worship, I don't silently cringe. Never again. I nod my head in affirmation.
... a concert-that-never-was film that trumps that genre because of its ultimate humanity, imperfection and lack of overproduction
A deeply creepy and disturbing exercise, in which we're exposed to footage that was likely never meant to see the light of day, featuring a performer who at the time was, literally, days away from death.
By the time the tour was gelling, the Weird One had left the building.
As a posthumous document, This Is It offers a veiled, vaseline-lens look behind the curtain. As a cultural event, it's more than a little creepy and depressing.
...a footnote to a complex, creative life that cannot be reduced to a cautionary tale. It is a glimpse of joy, a sequin shining amidst the ashes.
What "This is It" accomplishes is key to not only preserving Jackson's memory, but also to galvanizing his myth. Onstage, he still moonwalks, but there are new moves to be had here and a voice that is still strong.
I cannot image a visual record of any kind doing a better job of showing us what might have been, which makes it both a cause for celebration and its own unique tragedy
It's got a story, it's got music, it even has a hero, but what it lacks is soul.
A joyous homage to Jackson's music and peerless dance moves. It's the way Jackson would have wanted to be remembered, and the way his fans will want to remember him.
For those expecting something deeper than Ortega’s High School Musical trilogy, this ain’t it.
Latest News for Michael Jackson's This Is It
November 02, 2009:
Kenny Ortega Talks This Is It DVD/Blu-ray ![]()
If you enjoyed "This Is It" last week, but wondered what was going to happen to all the footage that didn't make it into the final cut, Kenny Ortega has some good news for you:... More...
November 01, 2009:
Box Office Guru Wrapup: This Is It Tops Box Office Worldwide
Four months after his death, Michael Jackson was the king of the box office as his concert documentary This Is It thrilled fans opening at number one. But with no other new... More...
October 29, 2009:
Critics Consensus: This Is It Is Certified Fresh
This week at the movies brings only one wide release: the hotly-anticipated performance documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It, which captures the King of Pop in rehearsals... More...
October 23, 2009:
'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Featurette Unveiled ![]()
More...
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