I understand your reasoning, I do, and it can be disheartening.
Here is my take on this: MJ detractors will do what they're going to do regardless of a biopic being released. They have been doing so during MJ's lifetime and they will continue to do so now and in the future. Anything pro-MJ, big or small, triggers them. The estate has been going against Michael's wishes for a long time, the Cascios will continue to lie and exploit as they've done for years, same goes for Wade, James & co. Despite the numerous rebuttals out there, the verified materials, the legal documentation that exonerates Michael and the factual documentaries that debunk LN and such, there are people who only go by their first impressions, the ones that were shaped by the initial tabloid propaganda. Nothing has changed on this end, sadly.
I will echo the sentiment of one of my favourite TikTok creators who advocates for MJ's innocence and who has dedicated her profile to exposing lies about MJ (@ICandAndIWill): I do not see this biopic as the
*best* way for justice to be served or as a way to properly tell Michael's story in its entirety and in great detail; I see it as a good way for Michael's music and innovation to reach broader audiences, especially younger generations that have not experienced the initial wave of tabloid propaganda.
Why do I not see this biopic as a way to vindicate Michael per se? Two reasons:
1. This is a biopic, not a documentary. And it's a Hollywood production. No biopic has ever portrayed with utmost fidelity the life of the icon it focused on. Artistic liberties and embellishments will be taken, things will dramatized, others will be sugarcoated, others misrepresented, others overlooked entirely. I repeat, this is not a documentary. Any movie, be it a biopic or an "inspired by true events" production (emphasis on INSPIRED) will not reflect the absolute reality.
2. I am well aware that many people out there cannot understand the difference between biopic and documentary, so they will probably assume that this biopic is actually Michael's real story and will refer to the movie as a source material for their beliefs (so many people watch a movie about someone or something that happened in the past, and consider it the absolute truth). Others will not believe a word of it, not even the parts that are true or represented properly.
However, the good part is that a biopic of this magnitude will showcase how Michael's musical genius reshaped the music industry and how it continues to do so to this day. I'm a 1992 kid, and though my parents familiarized me with Michael's work from a young age and I adored his music since I was little, I never got to experience his brilliance firsthand, I never got to attend one of his concerts, I never felt the thrill of seeing the world be captivated by his music as it did back in the 80s. Of course, I've basically watched every video I could find of him, but I believe the people who've been to his concerts or participated in his shows will confirm that watching a YT video or a DVD of his concert is *not* the same as experiencing it live. This biopic is as close as many of us will ever get to experiencing Michael on such a large scale simultaneously; incredible acoustics, seeing the costumes in clearer detail, the dance moves performed by his very nephew who trained extensively to achieve this. Bottom line is: for me, this biopic is a great way to experience Michael's music again on a global scale. I know my nephews and nieces are equally excited, and even my coworkers. We know the truth about Michael, we're going for the incredible music and seeing just a little bit more of him on the big screen. If anyone deserves this, it's Michael.
Apologies for the lengthy comment. Rant over.
