reviews

'Michael' Review: Please Stop I’ve Got Enough

Lionsgate

It's somehow been 30 years since Nora Ephron's charming tale of a whimsical angel, played by John Travolta. At long last we have a remake, only now the main character sings "Beat It." This is all a lie, except for the "Beat It" part.

There's an alternate universe where Michael is just a kind of a "seen it all before" (like, literally, since this isn't the first film about Michael Jackson; The Jacksons: An American Dream aired on ABC in 1992) jukebox movie with a good lead performance and a bunch of songs we all like. But, as much as I tried to will myself into this alternative universe while watching Michael, it did not work. I am still very much in the universe where Michael Jackson has been accused of doing some really awful things. (And I've seen the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which the Jackson estate has seemingly erased from existence.) And since Michael is produced by members of Jackson's family, and stars Jaafar Jackson (Michael Jackson's nephew) and has all the rights to Michael Jackson's music, of course none of that is addressed.

If I didn't know any better, based on this movie, I'd assume Michael Jackson died shortly after Bad was released. And I suspect this movie would be just fine with people thinking that's what happened.

Is IMAX Worth It? Let’s Answer An Electronic Mail Question

Thank you again for reading The Hard Pass. Last week I offered two items to new yearly subscribing members. One was a Criterion Blu-ray of Barry Lyndon. That has been claimed. The other was a Furbacca. [Update: the Furbacca has been claimed.] Now, you may be surprised to learn, not

Jonah Hill's New Movie Made Me Go Back And Look At The Uncomfortable Interviews I Had With Him

Jonah Hill didn’t do a traditional press tour for his new film, Outcome, because he gave up "media appearances and public facing events" a few years ago because they caused him anxiety. Fair enough. Though he did let Martin Scorsese interview him in support of this film.

In Honor Of ‘Hitman: Agent 47,’ Here's A Ranking Of All 47 ‘Hitman: Agent’ Movies

Of everything I've ever written, this particular piece holds the record for being the one I hear about the most that I personally don't think of that fondly. And it's actually been brought up quite a few times recently as a piece I should

Bruce Springsteen And Movie Night: Let’s Answer Some Electronic Mail Questions

Thank you, once again, for being a reader of The Hard Pass. This newsletter launched two months ago and things have been encouraging enough that I am floating around the idea of getting a logo made. If you are someone who does such a thing please let me know at

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Is IMAX Worth It? Let’s Answer An Electronic Mail Question

Jonah Hill's New Movie Made Me Go Back And Look At The Uncomfortable Interviews I Had With Him

In Honor Of ‘Hitman: Agent 47,’ Here's A Ranking Of All 47 ‘Hitman: Agent’ Movies

Bruce Springsteen And Movie Night: Let’s Answer Some Electronic Mail Questions