Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story | |
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Written by | Claudia Salter |
Directed by | Allan Moyle |
Starring |
Flex Alexander Eugene Clark Frederic Tucker Krista Rae |
Music by | Bruce Leitl |
Country of origin | US |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Producer(s) |
Michael Frislev Chad Oakes |
Cinematography | David Greene |
Editor(s) | Bridget Durnford |
Running time | 87 min. |
Distributor |
Paramount Home Entertainment VH1 Television |
Release | |
Original release | August 6, 2004 |
Chronology | |
Preceded by | The Jacksons: An American Dream |
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 Canadian-American biographical telefilm produced for VH1. The biopic stars Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent events. The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror". Filming was primarily shot in to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The film originally aired on August 6, 2004, receiving a TV rating of TV-PG for language. It is available on DVD, where it is distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment and is rated PG-13 for some brief language and thematic elements by the MPAA.
The film is a sort of spiritual sequel to The Jacksons: An American Dream, which discussed the Jackson family as children. The telefilm went on to receive generally negative reviews from both fans and critics alike as the film presented Jackson in a very unflattering manner and did not represent most of the true story. Unlike the former, none of Jackson's songs are heard, only mentioned in the telefilm.
Plot
Man in the Mirror begins with a flashback, albeit with a voice-over narration by Michael Jackson (Flex Alexander), who reminisces on his younger self (played by Brennan Gademans in a non-speaking role), wanting a normal childhood in addition to becoming a superstar at a young age. It later flashes forward to 1983, whereas Jackson (Alexander) is now a global superstar and pop icon, due in part to his success of his critically acclaimed and universally successful sixth studio album Thriller, which has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and making Jackson a global superstar beyond his wildest dreams.
The telefilm later jumps from Jackson's universal fame post-Thriller, into his personal life and relationships within the public eye. From events chronicling a troubled time during the Dangerous era, his failed marriages with both Lisa Marie Presley (daughter of music icon Elvis) and Debbie Rowe, whom he later had two children with, a strained relationship with his father Joe, child molestation allegations, to the 30th anniversary of his solo career, dealing with 9/11, and a criminal trial for child molestation allegations of which he was found Not Guilty, the telefilm has Jackson struggling to regain his image as a music icon and a world-renowned entertainer.
Cast
- Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson
- Eugene Clark as Bobby
- Theresa Browning as Woman
- Marty Antonini as Detective #2
- Tom Carey as Director
- Brian Copping as Elder
- Lynne Cormack as Elizabeth Taylor
- Hugh Delaney as Judge
- Cedric De Souza as Martin Bashir
- Talon Dunbar as Little Boy
- Greg Farkas as Male Dancer
- Brennan Gademans as Young Michael Jackson
- Jason Griffith as Jermaine Jackson
- Patricia Idlette as Katherine Jackson
- Samantha Kaine as Diana Ross
- Liberty Kee as Nanny
- Margaret Avery as Martha Upshaw
- Greg Lawson as Detective #1
- Daniel Libman as Dr. Goodman
- Barbara Mamabolo as Janet Jackson
- Brian Martell as Thomas
- Peter Onorati as Ziggy
- Duncan Pattillo as Bodyguard
- Lou Poulis as Gardner
- Brendan Prost as Manny (based on Jordan Chandler)
- Brooklynn Proulx as Paris Jackson
- Krista Rae as Lisa Marie Presley
- Chad Riley as Dance crew member
- Troy Rudolph as Stage Manager
- Carrie Schiffler as Surgeon
- Connor Schmidt as Benjamin Keough
- Peter Skagen as Attorney
- Amy Sloan as Holly
- William S. Taylor as Johnnie Cochran
- April Telek as Debbie Rowe
- Michael Tod as Sick Boy
- Jameson Trenholm as Junkie #2
- Frederic Tucker as Joe Jackson
- Aidan Wilks as David (based on Gavin Arvizo)
- Gerrick Winston as Tito Jackson
- Chris Scheuerman as Security Guard (uncredited)
Award nominations
- 2005 - Nominated NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special - Flex Alexander.
See also
External links
- Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story at AllMovie
- Audio-description script