Michael Jackson was a legendary American entertainer, singer, and songwriter. Known as the “Rocker” in the group that performed along with other artists of his time, he is still considered one of the biggest cultural icons of the 20th Century. There is no arguing that his contributions to music are undeniable, but his untimely death at the age of 29 from a drug overdose is now linked in the minds of many with the tragic events that befell him. His untimely departure left a void in the hearts of many, especially those who loved his music, including Michael Jackson.
A movie that chronicles Michael Jackson’s life from childhood through his death, Michael Jackson: A Family Portrait was made by director/producer Dean Ware and will be shown on HBO. The film covers different periods of Jackson’s career, from his childhood days through the latter part of his career. What many do not realize is that the incidents that occurred during those times had a profound effect on his music, his persona, his sexuality, and even his death.
A four-hour documentary that chronicles Michael Jackson’s life from childhood through his death, Michael Jackson: A Family Portrait follows the singer from his childhood days in Kansas City, Missouri, through his two years in Beverly Hills, California, and finally to his death in June 2021 in the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel after fatally shooting himself. Although there were problems during the making of this documentary, what is portrayed is a complex man who was often faced with difficulties and that sought to deal with those problems, even when it was not easy for him. He was a man who overcame drug addiction and sexual abuse, and he was also a man who pursued a woman only for his own satisfaction. In fact, he was married to Lisa Marie Presley for 17 years before their divorce in 1977.
Because the making of this documentary was so important to him, he appointed journalist Martin Sheen to be in charge of its production. Sheen wrote and directed the documentary, which tells the story of a boy who grows up during the early sixties in a small Texas town called Ridgeland and eventually becomes an icon of pop culture. Michael Jackson had a lot of personal problems to face growing up as a child and through the use of this documentary, people can begin to understand what it was like for him while he was growing up and how he coped with the many troubles that he was confronted with as a teenager.
The first section of the documentary centers around the singer’s childhood home in Texas, where he learned how to play the electric guitar. The boy also reveals a portion of his violent childhood, including his being hit by a metal object in the head as a boy, receiving the death penalty in prison, and the sexual abuse he endured at the hands of his stepfather and alcoholic father. Through the documentary, one can understand how the volatile singer changed into the person he became and how he dealt with the various circumstances that he was faced with throughout the years.
Throughout the documentary, viewers get a look into the actual birth of Michael Jackson as well as how he went on to become the biggest star in the world. One segment shows some of Jackson’s rehearsal days, as well as some of his performances at different events such as concerts. It will be interesting to see if any of the alleged abuse that was carried out by Michael Jackson’s stepfather ever came to light during this investigation.
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