2026

'Michael' (2026) Review: Setting The Record Straight? Out of nowhere, the world seemed to come to a stop. Check your phone. Breaking news. The King of Pop was no longer among us. It was far from the only time I remember Jackson being in the news, but swiftly the narrative shifted. There was no more talk of allegations or wrongdoing. At the end of it all, the only thing people talked about was the music, his presence on stage, and the fact that the world was a poorer place without him in it. I have no doubt that the new film Michael seeks to establish that final narrative as the one and only.  The film starts at the beginning, with a young Michael Jackson played phenomenally by Juliano Valdi. Valdi commands the stage in one frame, and then cowers in fear of his abusive father, while at the same time maintaining a quiet defiance. The child actor’s performance sets the stage for Jafaar Jackson, who catches the baton seamlessly. The journey from boy to billboard record breaker is impressively handled, immersing the audience through the years of ups and downs. The anchor to everything is Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson, who is as dastardly as you might expect. Yet even as the villain of the piece, Domingo can’t help but evoke a modicum of sympathy. Joseph seems a man hell-bent on a particular delusion, regardless of the reality of his situation. As…