Michael Jackson's This Is It, 2009

I didn't expect to like this film as much as I did. There's been some criticism about turning the rehearsal footage into a film, but that's exactly what makes this film so different from anything else we've seen with or about Michael Jackson. What's most engaging about the film is being able to witness Jackson's creative process versus just seeing the final product, and observing how he worked behind the scenes and how he thought, managed and directed his artists & technicians. While I enjoyed Michael Jackson's work over the years, all the negative press made me lose interest over time. Watching this film obscured anything negative I've ever read. His creative genius, intelligence, humor, depth, dedication, kindness & charisma made him incomparable as an artist. In the film, we get to see an artist who is extremely mature, wise, self-aware, capable, mindful, kind and respectful to everyone around him. Yes, he was eccentric and childlike, but he seems neither weird nor wacky here. There have been many brilliant people throughout history who were viewed as "weird" by their contemporaries because they were unusual and different from the pack or purely interested in & focused on what inspired them. Jackson also appears quite strong & lucid in all the footage and seems completely inspired & energetic. He looked great. The film also does a great job of showing how much heart, integrity and care went into this tour by everyone involved. How lucky were all those who got to watch the magic upclose, and how blessed we are that all this was actually captured on film so thoroughly. The dancers are incredible and the dance routines & sets breathtaking. The concert would have been amazing. But for me, being able to glimpse this magical artist behind the scenes was the real gift. ~NN

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I never thought that watching rehearsals could be so powerful. MJ is arguably the greatest dancer to ever live and this film shows just how committed he was to creating some of the most spectacular concerts ever produced. I can only imagine how fantastic the actual concerts would have been.

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