Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' criticized as superficial portrayal

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film 'Michael' presents a biopic of Michael Jackson featuring bullying elements, bravura musical sequences, and a haunting CGI version of his chimpanzee Bubbles. Despite these components, the movie fails to provide meaningful insight into Jackson's personal life or artistic genius. The portrayal has been described as stilted and waxwork-like, lacking depth in its exploration of the iconic performer. The film includes significant visual effects work to recreate Jackson's famous pet. Critical reception highlights the disconnect between the film's technical achievements and its emotional resonance. Fuqua's direction focuses on surface-level spectacle rather than substantive character study. The biopic attempts to cover aspects of Jackson's career and controversies but ultimately offers little illumination.