Late to the Party: Michael Jackson's This Is It

Indifference. If there’s one word that could describe my emotions when Michael Jackson died, this would be it. Indifference because the real Michael Jackson died long before. Indifference because it seemed a bit strange to mourn the loss of a crazed, accused pedophile. Indifference because the world now had one less drug-addicted celebrity to follow in the tabloids. That was it. Until This Is It.

Released in October of 2009 to much controversy, Michael Jackson’s This Is It is a collection of rehearsal footage from what was to be a 50-show run at London’s 02 Arena. Rumored to be part comeback, part retirement tour, the shows would have run from July 2009 through March 2010 but never happened due to Jackson's death 18 days before the first scheduled date.

Not usually impressed by aging rock stars hitting the road for over-priced reunion tours, I had little interest in the hype leading up to the shows, and even less interest in this film after Jackson’s death. Yet there seemed to be a nagging draw tugging at me to see this. Perhaps it was an urge to watch the car wreck and confirm that I was right all along, that Jackson had nothing left to offer. Or maybe it was a tinge of hope that the star of my childhood had just as much talent before dying as he did 25 years prior. And so, almost a year and a half after its release, I caved to the urge and am very glad I did.

This Is It is perhaps the greatest memorial Michael could have ever received. Proving that he shouldn’t be eulogized similar to the stroke or Alzheimer victim whose body lived far beyond his mind, This Is It demonstrates that the Michael we all came to love and admire was still very much alive, while unfortunately very hidden under a veil of mental illness and physical deterioration. Michael was just as talented and every bit as dedicated to entertaining his fans as he ever was. Watching him sing and dance his way through hit after hit after hit, all the while demanding and arguably achieving perfection from himself, his band and his dancers, the film almost makes you forget all of the baby-dangling, courthouse appearances and pedophile allegations that consumed the man who defined a generation of music. And so…

Sadness. If there’s one word that could describe my emotions after watching This Is It, sadness would be most accurate. Sadness for what could have been. Sadness for what was there all along but never known. Sadness for a man who personally was beyond hope, but professionally defined greatness. Sadness for the loss of one of the greatest music icons of all time.

Available for streaming via Netflix.