The movie Michael is an American biographical musical drama film produced by GK Films and distributed by Lionsgate and Universal Pictures. Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. Both are very famous people and achieved critical acclaim for their works. And this movie is produced by Graham King, who is the producer behind the big biographical hit Bohemian Rhapsody. This film stars Jaafar Jackson, which is the real time nephew of Michael Jackson.

The narrative structure of Michael reshaped the rise and the golden ages of the pop star, and clearly listed the year for the important events. This story starts in a chronological order, from his childhood life in Gary, Indiana. When child Michael was forced by his father Joe Jackson, started a band with his four other brothers to create the Jackson 5. As the story continues, the movie shows the fierce fight for independence, he eventually breaks away from the family, cooperates with Quincy Jones, and culminates in the historic, record shattering success of the Thriller album. With the amazing accuracy of the moves from Jaafar Jackson, leading the audience through the legendary moonwalk debut from the 25th anniversary of Motown Records, all the way to the massive performances in the late 1980s. The movie structurally chose to end at 1988, during the Bad world tour, by fading into the dark on the words “His Story Continues,” This movie shaped itself as the first chapter, and leaving the complicated 1990s legal battles and other controversial events into the already greenlit and highly anticipated sequel, Michael 2.

Beyond the magnificent performances in the movie, the success of Michael is that the movie is filled with highly accurate historical details and easter eggs that the audiences will like and appreciate. Like the deep dive details of the infamous 1984 commercial shoot for Pepsi, where a malfunction of a firework machine and Michael’s hair catch on fire. This traumatic experience is a turning point of Michael Jackson’s career, it catalyzed a lifelong battle of fighting with severe pain and eventually relying on heavy medication. Director Antoine Fuqua shot this scene using a brilliant contrast, reminding the audience that under the mask of a superstar, a hidden world of pain, cruelty and suffering exists. By grounding with his talent and human suffering, the movie successfully humanizes a global superstar rather than a shallow tribute.

In conclusion, Michael is not only a movie about pop music, it is an exploration of the intense pressure of high expectations and the loss of innocence. Current students often feel intense pressure about their academic grades, worrying about their future and the expectations that their parents set. As we grow older, these pressures won’t disappear, it would rather be more intense than before. Because of this pressure, we often get ourselves into deep exhaustion because we are trying to show a perfect self to the outside world. That’s why the story of Michael shows deeply into our anxieties. Between the hustle of academic studying, we must learn to step out and give ourselves a break, and preserve our peace inside. If you are a student that is having high pressure and high expectations, then watching the movie Michael would help you relieve the stress and solve your confusion.