Folks, I got surprisingly delighted by the movie of the day - for only two weeks.
That is it has also got a political tone, well delivered amidst not-to-be-surpassed rock and roll. The first song performed in such mood - They don't care about us - is also marked by the special effect introduced, whereby only ten dancers, playing as soldiers, are multiplied by computers to about ten hundred. For those who have a command of English, the lyrics of that song comes to the fore as provokative: All I wanna say is that they don't realy care about us.
It was a really good idea not to add captions to the songs - the exception was in Thriller, and only in the part of it a narrator speaks, what was probably mistaken by the translator as not part of the song...
As the movie shows a political message shortly after its beginning, so it does toward the end - a rock 'nd roll plea to Heal the world, one more song composed by Michael. In between, most songs - performed according to the order of the tracks in the album - are the popular ones we enjoyed for decades: all coming with superb performance from Michael, his dancers and rich, innovative stage production we then learn Michael himself would directly dictate and supervise, besides selecting the dancers that would be "the extension of him" on the stage. And actually are.
So it is very hard to single out one such production as the best. If compelled to do so, I would point out the one pertaining to Thriller. But everyone with reasonable culture is to be also delighted with the projection of an edition of the classic Gilda, where Michael comes into to play the part of a sophisticated gangster that jumps to break a window at the end.
I also got amused with the training of the dancers, especially when the woman in charge of it says, 'I do not wanna see anything else moving out there, but hands', when referring to the erotic move of hips, the front area being gently touched.
While that woman sounds bossy, Michael turns out to be a notable leader, that puts forward what he expects assertively but caring about feelings, adding words such as: 'That is why we rehearse'. When happy with the results, Michael always smiles and says, 'God bless you'. As he repeats that, the chief of the production staff eventually comes out to the stage, joining everyone there, and declares that 'this is a church. A church of rock 'nd roll'.
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.
(Man in the mirror, this one not written by Michael)
Indeed, I ended up figuring out Michael makes use of what I see as the gospel formula. First, make this very clear: what are intentions without results? Second, stress that same simple message to inspire: love is important. Third, comfort: I will be there to comfort you (in the song I'll be there). In the movie rehearsal such formula proves once again to be infallible.
Michael smiles - as a child. As Jesus himself likely used to. He also gets in control of the rehearsal as one would not expect from such a star: he himself gently shows the dancers the way he does so they live up to Michael's standard; he is never stressed out or impatient or tired. This, certainly, has nothing to do with the negative image some insist to attach to him, even claiming he was "a very sick person". Definitely, nonsense.
He may have felt - no wonder - weak at times, or particularly at a certain period, as a result of the false allegations toward him. But he was undeniably at his best just eight days shy of leaving to London for those fifty shows that would have changed the world.
By watching That is it I came to profoundly regret Michael's demise, a homicide like several others, that chockingly interrupt the enlightened journey of unique persons, just on the eve of their performing something unique, whereby bothering the logic of this world, as much religion-ridden as prone to self destruction.
I saw the very first showing of the movie - on Tuesday, 27, at 2 a.m. Yes, that is it, two in the morning. It was the only exhibition of it as part of the 33rd international movie festival that is taking place till next Thursday, 5th Nov, and thus I saw it before anyone else going to other theaters later that day for the official opening. Roughly two hundred people - about two-thirds of the seats taken - stayed up to watch that first exhibition, among them one child, ten years old or close.
I had already bought a ticket in advance, so I am watching That is it once again tonight. The theater now is bound to be full. But I will hapilly see Michael and his fabulous dancers one more time. What is far from being enough since eternity is key to this unforgettable experience.
Bottom line: excellent
