Spike Lee Criticises The “Michael” Critics

Filmmaker Spike Lee has defended the recent Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” in the wake of the harsh critical reviews for the movie that opened the other week.

Speaking with CNN, Lee says he’s seen the film twice and “loved it” and says a big problem with much of the criticism about the film is that it’s misplaced.

The theatrical cut of the film itself ends in 1988, five years before the first allegation of child sexual abuse was leveled in 1993.

That said, the movie also famously underwent a major (and expensive) overhaul in production. As a result, it lost a bunch of the third act and the opening, all of which dealt with the controversy.

Reviews of the film have heavily criticised the way the movie avoids the scandal in any way, shape or form. Lee says that’s the issue, as reviewers should be reviewing the film in front of them:

“First of all, if you’re a movie critic, and you’re complaining about the stuff— all this other stuff— but the movie ends at ‘88. The stuff you’re talking about, accusations, happen [later].

So you’re critiquing the film on something that you want in, but it doesn’t work in the timeline of the film. But people showed up. Worldwide, people showed their love.

I miss Mike. I miss Prince. I mean, these are my brothers. I worked with both of them. Both beautiful, beautiful people.”

Talk of a second film has been out there, one that would deal with the scandal front and center, but whether it will happen isn’t confirmed as yet. The film has already pulled in $424 million globally after its second weekend.

Lee directed Jackson’s 1996 music video “They Don’t Care About Us” and two docos on the man – 2012’s “Bad 25” and 2016’s “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall”.