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MICHAEL JACKSON'S THIS IS ITMovie Reviews
Documentary about Michael Jackson's preparations for his series of sold-out shows in London, featuring interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage. Cast:Michael JacksonDirector:Kenny OrtegaRelease Date:October 28, 2009DVD Release:January 26, 2010From:Columbia PicturesRating:PGLength:1 hr 51 min
JANUARY 26, 2010
Michael Jackson's This Is It, Very Good Reviews, Mixed (Doc)
Michael Jackson's This Is It played to very good reviews that at the same time were mixed. • Ann Powers wrote in the Los Angeles Times, "...a tribute to the power of Jackson's body and voice... of a piece with Jackson's body of work: dazzling and strange, blurring the line between fantasy and reality." • And Richard Corliss wrote in Time, "...he was still a thriller.... This was him." More Reviews Below...
Michael Jackson's This Is It Positive Reviews (42 Reviews, reviews below)
Richard Corliss, Time: EXCELLENT "...he was still a thriller. Fans and doubters alike can look at the gentle, driven singer-dancer at the center of this up-close document and say, admiringly: This was him."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,337 words, 10/30/09
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a raw and endearing sketch of a genius at work.... directed, by Kenny Ortega, with enough liveliness to make up for its home-movie scruffiness..."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 740 words, 10/30/09
Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a beautifully made, loving tribute that gives Michael Jackson what he so desperately wanted -- affirmation that he indeed was the greatest entertainer of our time."(See all of Nekesa Mumbi Moody's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 778 words, 10/28/09
Bradley Jacobs, Us Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...overall it's a highly charged, personal and captivating peek at the last few weeks of a man who certainly didn't look close to death."(See all of Bradley Jacobs's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 307 words, 10/29/09
Elysa Gardner, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "...offers glimpses of his bygone greatness, and poignant suggestions of what might have been.... the world lost a genuine, if genuinely troubled, star."(See all of Elysa Gardner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 416 words, 10/28/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (11 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...something remains here, though it's hard to know whether it's the ghost or our love, perhaps both... by turns frustrating and entertaining, and predictably a little morbid."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 913 words, 10/29/09
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: EXCELLENT(cg) "For fans wondering if you should see the much-touted documentary memorial concert film 'Michael Jackson's This Is It,' rest assured, the late King of Pop delivers."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 326 words, 10/30/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Here is not a sick and drugged man forcing himself through grueling rehearsals, but a spirit embodied by music. Michael Jackson was something else."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 815 words, 10/29/09
Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a tribute to the power of Jackson's body and voice... of a piece with Jackson's body of work: dazzling and strange, blurring the line between fantasy and reality."(See all of Ann Powers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 841 words, 10/28/09
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: POOR(cg) "...sadly -- and reprehensively, if you ask me -- the movie equivalent to the National Enquirer's infamous post-mortem shot of Elvis Presley..."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 484 words, 10/28/09
Glenn Gamboa, New York Newsday: EXCELLENT(cg) "...unexpectedly heartwarming and surprisingly special.... a thrilling, poignant movie, but also a heartbreaking reminder of what could have been."(See all of Glenn Gamboa's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 502 words, 10/28/09
Liam Lacey, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "...a strange combination of performance film, memorial celebration and pseudo-candid backstage documentary. In short, it's a bona fide oddity..."(See all of Liam Lacey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 732 words, 10/29/09
Ben Wener, Orange County Register: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Director Kenny Ortega handles his precious cinematic gold as he should, with delicate care, skillfully combining high points and rough patches into a greater whole..."(See all of Ben Wener's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,307 words, 10/29/09
Chris Richards, Washington Post: POOR(cg) "For a man who so desperately wanted show us perfection -- or at least project the illusion of it -- Jackson would never, ever want us to see this film."(See all of Chris Richards's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 571 words, 10/29/09
Aidin Vaziri, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: WEAK(cg) "...a concert film without an audience... padded with mind-numbing scenes of dancers learning their moves. And the star seems completely unaware that he's on camera."(See all of Aidin Vaziri's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 651 words, 10/30/09
Mario Tarradell, Dallas Morning News: EXCELLENT(cg) "...shows us the potential, the promise of an important rebirth for the one-time King of Pop. Much of the film serves as a reminder of how talented this man was."(See all of Mario Tarradell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 442 words, 10/28/09
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "It's fascinating to watch Jackson and his creative team work out the details of what would have been a monstrously elaborate show, to sweat every little thing..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 590 words, 10/29/09
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "...comparable to being in the kitchen, savoring the smells and sampling tidbits, as a banquet is being prepared, but not getting to see it - or taste it - as it is served."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 10/30/09
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the movie is a dutiful tribute to its star. The crosscutting of different footage isn't seamless but we get a decent sense of how most of the numbers would go."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 840 words, 10/29/09
Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a document of a moment... a fiercely focused, misunderstood recluse who seemed very much alive and as thrilling as ever."(See all of Jon Bream's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 10/29/09
Ted Fry, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a rough-cut, the buildup for something that never comes. Still, there's an undeniable magnetism and sadness in the narrative because we know the tabloid story."(See all of Ted Fry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 427 words, 10/30/09
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...achieves its essential goal -- to let us know that those London concerts would have been a stunning entertainment achievement, expertly performed by Jackson..."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 519 words, 10/29/09
Ryan White, Portland Oregonian: MODERATE(cg) "A documentary would have been a better historical document than a rehearsal film -- unless you're a big fan. If that's the case, you'll love 'This Is It.' If you're not..."(See all of Ryan White's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 318 words, 10/30/09
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "...culling footage from weeks of rehearsals into a surprisingly smooth, energetic idea of what a 21st century Michael Jackson concert would be. It would be stunning..."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 727 words, 10/29/09
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a bouncy, engaging, slightly revealing and at times downright moving portrait of Jackson, sweating to his own oldies at 50, prepping a 'comeback' he never made."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 757 words, 10/29/09
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...somewhat rough, with musical numbers not entirely fleshed out... But there's more than enough proof to conclude that the show would have been magnificent..."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 482 words, 10/30/09
Carla Meyer, Sacramento Bee: VERY GOOD(cg) "Working with footage never intended for the big screen, Ortega succeeds in showcasing not just Jackson but the process of mounting a behemoth production."(See all of Carla Meyer's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 663 words, 10/29/09
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: GOOD(cg) "...undertaken much too soon to be a great documentary the way the performer was extraordinary... less a rich portrait of the artist than a compelling sketch..."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 491 words, 10/29/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (5 Reviews)
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...feels vital and thrillingly alive. In this transcendent tribute to a performing artist flying without a safety net, death holds no sway over Michael Jackson."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 10/30/09
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) " ''For the fans,' concludes the ridiculously long-winded opening title crawl.... For those expecting something deeper than Ortega's 'High School Musical' trilogy, this ain't it."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 143 words, 11/05/09
Bob Mondello, NPR All Things Considered: VERY GOOD "If you're looking for some insight into the star, 'This Is It' won't be it. But if you're looking for showmanship and powerhouse performing, it's everywhere."(See all of Bob Mondello's reviews...)(Listen to the full review...) 255 seconds, 10/28/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...something remains here, though it's hard to know whether it's the ghost or our love, perhaps both... by turns frustrating and entertaining, and predictably a little morbid."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 913 words, 10/29/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...a spectacular record of rehearsals for a show that wasn't to be.... brilliantly packaged, considering how quickly the job was done..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 329 words, 10/30/09
Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a tribute to the power of Jackson's body and voice... of a piece with Jackson's body of work: dazzling and strange, blurring the line between fantasy and reality."(See all of Ann Powers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 841 words, 10/28/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (5 Reviews)
Andrew Barker, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "...a classy film that only affirms the man's talent.... there's an incredible amount to enjoy here, and the star's fans will be in rapture."(See all of Andrew Barker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 927 words, 10/28/09
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter: EXCELLENT "...what this strange yet strangely beguiling film does is capture one of pop culture's great entertainers in the feverish grips of pure creativity."(See all of Kirk Honeycutt's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 840 words, 10/29/09
Ann Powers, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...a tribute to the power of Jackson's body and voice... of a piece with Jackson's body of work: dazzling and strange, blurring the line between fantasy and reality."(See all of Ann Powers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 841 words, 10/28/09
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: MODERATE "...something remains here, though it's hard to know whether it's the ghost or our love, perhaps both... by turns frustrating and entertaining, and predictably a little morbid."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 913 words, 10/29/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...a spectacular record of rehearsals for a show that wasn't to be.... brilliantly packaged, considering how quickly the job was done..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 329 words, 10/30/09
23.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Michael Jackson's This Is It's reviews are separated by an average 23.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Michael Jackson's This Is It (42 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Michael Jackson's This Is It's reviews cover 73.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 25,970 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 618 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Michael Jackson's This Is It Coverage, Volume & Length (42 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 32.1 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Michael Jackson's This Is It's reviews on average broke 32.1 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Michael Jackson's This Is It's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Michael Jackson's This Is It (42 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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