It would be safe to say this has been a long time coming. People have been expecting this. In fact, it almost seems like the “right thing to do”: A star is born or discovered, the world adores them, they die too soon, we wait a few years… and then comes the movie of their life story (or some aspect of it, at least).
We’ve been there with James Brown; and we have seen it with Steve Jobs and Amy Winehouse, among others.
Now we are well on our way to having one made to honour Michael Jackson.
A documentary about Jackson, who died in June 2009, has already has been released: This is it portrays the last concert he was planning to put together prior to his retirement. But this time, news has broken that British actor Joseph Fiennes will play Michael Jackson in a new film.
The movie, we’re told, will focus on the period just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Since all flights in and out of New York were banned during that period, we are told that Jackson took a road trip with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brandon to escape the city at the time.
While it appears the veracity of this story is still in question, we will likely still get the movie.
I’m sure you would agree that the world would be overjoyed at the prospect of a project like this. The King of Pop will “live again” on our screens. I mean, the man still makes more money from the grave than some of us who are alive and well. He was and remains the ultimate legend.
But why has this movie already failed before hitting the big screens?
Firstly there is outrage over the suggested lead actor to play Michael Jackson. The selection of Fiennes for the part has caused an uproar the world over. I don’t think it has much to do with the fact that he is British, but more to do with the fact that he is white.
In order to support their argument, fans have dug up an old interview that Michael did with Oprah, where he discusses his skin colour. In it, Oprah talks about a rumour that had been doing the rounds that Michael had wanted a white child to play him in a Pepsi commercial. Michael absolutely rubbishes the rumour, arguing that while he had skin pigmentation challenges, he was still a proud black American. Oprah goes on to ask about why Michael’s skin had changed over the years. In the same hour long conversation, Jackson goes on to describe his challenge with his skin disorder which caused him to look the way he did in his adult life.
You can watch the live interview below (the question about the skin colour and the Pepsi commercial is from 23:50 to 28:00):
One thing that isn’t mentioned in the interview is what kind of actor would or should play Michael as an adult.
Which leads me to my main point: Why would Michael Jackson be bothered by Joseph Fiennes playing him as an adult? It is after all, probably the most reasonable thing to do in this situation.
Furthermore, in the interview with Oprah, Michael argues that what is important above all else, is art. So why would one obsess over the pigmentation of his skin?
I believe the obsession with Michael’s pigmentation in the lead up to this movie has already taken away from a potentially great piece of work.
I think people are not upset about Fiennes playing Jackson – they are upset that the movie isn’t going to be how they had envisioned it.
At the end of the day, Fiennes hasn’t been given a fair opportunity. The movie is about adult Michael and should be viewed as such.
It is amazing how we are all fans of art until it doesn’t suit our preference. It is like arguing in favour of free speech, as long as it is something we like to hear.
Fiennes must crack on, even though he may have already failed (according to public opinion).