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This Is It gives Michael Jackson’s, the King of Pop, fans a front row seat to rehearsals for his 50-date London tour set to kick off just shy of two weeks after his untimely death on June 25, 2009.
From This Is It's grand opening, fans are captivated by dancers, who make the final cut, verbally expressing how much the opportunity to tour with the King of Pop means to them and what it will do for their careers. Some even lose the ability to speak so it’s up to the fans to interpret their thoughts via their body language…
How can you make footage of rehearsals into a blockbuster movie?
Step 1: See This Is It (this is the only step by the way). This Is It offers more than just rehearsal footage. Male and female fans get glimpses of eye candy when privy to intimate audition footage of hundreds of dancers trying to flex, shake, pirouette, etc. their way into Michael’s view. Fans will be delighted to see a healthy, almost-50-years-young Michael commanding attention in every rehearsal whether he’s singing, dancing, or giving direction to his team. Soft-spoken Michael definitely has creative control and still moves as well as the woman beater (Chris Brown) who emulates him. You have to watch closely, but I think Michael does his rendition of the “She Fine (Halle Berry)” dance during his Billie Jean rehearsal.
Fans may believe they’re watching a movie or video at times as several of Michael’s videos are recreated on a much more elaborate and grander scale as back drops for his stage performance. When a few very flexible women flashed before my eyes on the big screen, seductively dancing on poles they had pleading for mercy, I couldn’t help but wonder am I still watching This Is It? Moreover, if I was that limber I would be in marital bliss right now with a couple of rugrats interrupting my thoughts. On second thought, maybe I don’t need to invest in dance lessons and a pole.
… To This Is It's grand closing, Michael shares inspirational thoughts and encouraging words with his dancers and everyone involved in this massive production, while fans leave the theatre wanting more …thinking this would have been a hell of a concert … and most of all in awe still trying to grasp that the King of Pop is gone.
I loved This Is It so much I created a Facebook account with hopes of finding a childhood friend who as a preteen said she had documents legalizing marriage between her and the King of Pop.
Multiple deuces up for This Is It as it was emotional, entertaining, and the editing was remarkable … no amateur rehearsal footage here, which compels me to believe there would still be a This Is It movie in the making (or already in your DVD collection) if Michael was still with us.
Enjoy, because unfortunately … This Is It.
Editor's Note: We are happy to introduce April L. Patterson a.k.a. "The PhxSoul.com Movie Maven" who will regularly write reviews about movies that prominently feature African American actors. This is The PhxSoul.com Movie Maven's first installment ... we hope you enjoy!
If you haven’t seen Good Hair yet ... “What are you waiting for?”
In this documentary, audiences learn Chris Rock was inspired to go deep into the black community and learn more about black women’s hair after one of his darling little girls came crying to him and asked, “Daddy how come I don’t have good hair?”
On Rock’s quest to learn what exactly is good hair he interviews the likes of Nia Long, Lauren London, Raven Symone, Ice-T, Al Sharpton, and many more. Ice-T scored major cool points for being so real. Then I thought about his better half and took 'em all back. For all you drama lovers who can’t get enough of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kim’s creative mind behind her wig line, Derek J (always in heels) carries his 15 minutes of fame over into Rock’s Good Hair.
From ATL to NY to India, where women tonsure their hair, to LA, the weave mecca, and back to the dirty south, Rock discovers most black women are addicted to creamy crack and weave to obtain a more European look—straight hair—perceived to be “good hair.”
Because Indian women are sacrificing their hair for God and black women are spending thousands of dollars to get it, weave dominated much of the dialog. As black women set boundaries, i.e., avoiding certain activities to preserve their expensive, precious hair, while Sharpton cries these women (myself included) wear oppression on their heads everyday, Rock’s inquisitiveness leaves audiences begging the questions …
On a softer note, I left the theatre thinking I need to be in ATL for the next Bronner Brothers Hair Show. More importantly, I need to find Jason Griggers, the hair grower (aka the Rosa Parks of black hair).
It isn’t raining men so I can’t give the movie two snaps and a twist, but it’s definitely worthy of deuces up as this documentary is thought provoking, witty, and entertaining not to mention there were plenty, as my friend put it, “shake your head moments.”
Whether you’re a man or woman, wear extensions or are as natural as mother earth, you’ll enjoy Good Hair.
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