Moonwalker (1988)
Directors: Jerry Kramer, Jim Blashfieldm Colin Chilvers
Cast: Michael Jackson, Sean Lennon, Kellie Parker, Joe Pesci, Brandon Quintin Adams, Dante Basco
If there is a character as anyone else to illustrate the concept of "broken toy" within the cultural landscape that is, without doubt, Michael Jackson. Before it exploded in his face as the scandals ruin social, artistic and economic, Jackson was the closest thing to a deity who had walked around the world since the time of the Roman emperors. Their power, influence and pull people were so great that, for one example, in the fall of 1991 until the very U2 decided to delay a month the launch of their new LP, the only outstanding Achtung Baby, for his production of no longer coincide with the Dangerous.
If it has seemed better not to talk too much in 80 years when, along with Steven Spielberg, Michael Jackson became the highest representation of mass culture Yankee, which was then their best commercial. His name and music are recognized around the globe, its presence in the media was almost continuous and any news related to it, it was absurd, was the subject of front page and caused real earthquakes. With the world in his hands, the King of Pop decided that its next step would be encumbrarse in the world of celluloid at the hands of Spielberg, who was one of his closest friends. Jackson had already made first steps as an actor in their own video clips, like the Thriller, and had played Captain Eo, a deployment of high technology applied to the movies directed by Francis Ford Coppola to the greater glory of the artist, and intended for display at the EPCOT The star attraction of the Disneyland in Orlando.
Against this background, it's no wonder the huge expectations created when he learned that Michael Jackson would star in a movie. Even the most insignificant details were kept secret until the last minute. Thus, when the company began allowing leaks to the press about what was cooking, the film was on everyone's lips and had ensured the success, despite the fact that in the United States would only be marketed on video. Outside there, however, it would appear on the big screen, and suffice it to say that when the premiere was approaching, Spanish Television scheduled to premiere the video for Smooth Criminal (which served as a trailer of presentation) on prime time TV. What followed was a state of collective madness among the fans as not recalled from the Beatles, with which the queue for the cinema ticket sales were a couple of laps and building griteríos and deafening in the room, hardly allowed to hear anything during projection.
All this might make more of a drop socarrona a smile, as the course of the years has meant that Jackson has gone from being the subject of admiration and respect to be one of mockery and ridicule. And when one dares to film, undoubtedly one of the most insane exercises film ever filmed. The thing is a big star of the music (you guess who it is) that, between song and song is dedicated to fighting a powerful henchman of evil and show their love for step children (sic). In short: we must have a steel ball to be able to swallow whole Moonwalker, because apart from the video clips (of which we will talk a little later) the film is bad as the worst sin. It was at that time (to me at least I did not like anything at all) not to mention now, with its protagonist into the shade (if it) of what once was. Still, conclusions can be drawn very interesting viewing, beginning with the fact that never again shoot a movie like this because there is no musical superstars of the caliber of Michael. Leaving aside the case, well known at this stage, one days who competed with him in the matter of Olympus "charts" are not what they were, and the poor devils that currently pollute with his presence the top of the hit would not be one millionth of what Michael was twenty or even live lives row.
In the case of Moonwalker this note in the plot audiovisual Jackson dominated best: video clips. That's when the King of Pop says, "Here I am, what happens?" And with his faithful squire, the ineffable Quincy Jones, shows the enormous capacity treasured then pop anthem to make anything written about a staff. This is evident especially during the scene of the Smooth Criminal, perhaps one of the worst areas of the repertoire of Jackson: a song clearly filling (served as a "farewell and close to Bad), the simplest mechanism Botija and a Moonwalker elongated to boredom, to put a gentle way. But there we have it, becoming successful and making even more of a hum machacón and its absurd chorus after hearing it. And it goes without saying that the clip of it is very well done, but you can not expect less in a tape shot in full apotheosis of the genre, also starring one of the musicians who knew how to get more from the budget through. A privately I will stay with Leave me alone, full of genuine public statement milk bad against the absurdity of the media harassment, wrapped with a very catchy music and, for the opportunity at hand, a video clip of the most spectacular, authentic monument to the techniques of stop-motion. " Perhaps the best of the film.
Although Michael Jackson could say many things and not all very good (in the place of art in addition to the staff), no one can call into question what was their influence on popular music and his legacy, including this Moonwalker. Yes, true: it is an "on" egocentric narcissism that distills a thesis worthy of a psychiatrist, and that is a top bodrio unbearable if we forget about the video clips. But it is a reflection of a few years, the 80 that were to pop music what the 90 andalusia in the fashion world, and we like it or not, had moments of greatness that will never be repeated.
