“Michael” is a biopic that tells the story of Michael Jackson.

The film doesn’t tell the whole story.

Few biopics do, or can.

The film “Michael” begins during the childhood of Michael Jackson (Aug. 29, 1959, to June 25, 2009) and continues to 1988, prior to accusations about the King of Pop’s private life.

An out-of-court settlement with one accuser took place in 1994. A criminal trial acquitted Michael Jackson in 2005.

The original recordings of songs by Michael Jackson, The Jacksons and The Jackson 5 are heard in the film “Michael.”

The soundtrack has 13 songs, including those by the Jackson 5 and on Michael Jackson’s albums, “Off the Wall” (1979), “Thriller” (1982) and “Bad” (1987), among them: “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin,’” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Billie Jean.”

“Thriller” sold 70 million album copies, said to be the top-seller ever. Music videos for the singles “Thriller,” “Beat It” and “Billie Jean” were pacesetters.

“Bad” was the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror” and “Dirty Diana.”

The film “Michael” has impressive performances, notably by Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, as the adult Michael Jackson, and by Juliano Valdi, as the child Michael Jackson.

Each actor, in their movie acting debuts, replicates the pop star’s mannerisms, including the soft-spoken voice and innovative dance moves, including the moonwalk.

Colman Domingo is garrulous, intimidating and complex as Michael Jackson’s father, Joseph Jackson.

Nia Long portrays Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine Scruse-Jackson, as his confidante while depicted as maintaining an often subservient role to her husband.

Miles Teller is John Branca, Michael Jackson’s attorney. KeiLyn Durrel Jones is Bill Bray, Michael Jackson’s bodyguard. Laura Harrier is Suzanne de Passe, creative assistant to Berry Gordy at Motown.

Mike Myers is Walter Yetnikoff, president of CBS Records. Kendrick Sampson is Quincy Jones, a co-producer of three Michael Jackson solo albums. Larenz Tate is Berry Gordy, president of Motown.

“Michael” is a typical biopic in screenplay, camera work, editing and presentation. Not much new is illuminated about the life, mind and emotions of Michael Jackson. The film is more a re-creation of music videos than a narrative biographical film.

“Michael” is directed by Antoine Fuqua (director, “The Equalizer” and 2018 and 2023 sequels; “Training Day,” 2001, and numerous music videos).

One take-away after seeing the film pertains to Michael Jackson’s father’s alleged physical and emotion abuse of the singer when the pop singer was a child. This is a major theme of the film and, it seems to me, was an attempt to explain the psychological scars that may have affected the superstar’s emotional and mental state as an adult.

The film puts emphasis on a burn injury to the scalp that Michael Jackson sustained in an accident during the making of a television commercial for a soft drink. There is an implied explanation for the alleged use of pain-killer medication by the pop star. Michael Jackson allegedly died from an overdose of sedatives.

The film shows at least one cosmetic surgery that Michael Jackson had, that of Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, and delves into his stated purpose for the medical procedure.

Although “Michael” is a biopic, it doesn’t surpass the documentary film, “Michael Jackson’s This Is It,” which is about his rehearsals for a concert residency at the O2 Arena, London.

“This Is It” was released four months after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009. It offers, to date, a definitive view of Michael Jackson and is still the thriller about the King of Pop.

“Michael,” MPA rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned: Content inappropriate for children under 13) for some thematic material, language and smoking; 2 hours, 7 minutes; Genre: Biography, Music Drama. Distributed by Lionsgate and Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: In “Michael,” the music video for “Thriller” was filmed on Union Pacific Avenue in Los Angeles, Calif., where the original music video was filmed in 1983.

At The Movies: “Michael” was seen in the standard format at AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, May 29-31: “Backrooms,” a science fiction psychological horror film based on Kane Parsons’ web series, opened at No. 1 with $81.4 million in 3,442 theaters.

2. “Obsession” stayed in place, $26.4 million in 2,781 theaters, $104.7 million, three weeks. 3. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” dropped two places from its one week at No. 1 with $25 million in 4,300 theaters, $137.3 million, two weeks. 4. “Michael” dropped one place, $11.7 million in 3,118 theaters, $339.9 million, six weeks. 5. “The Breadwinner,” a comedy starring Nate Bargatze and Mandy Moore, $7.5 million in 3,252 theaters, opening. 6. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” dropped two places, $5.9 million in 2,650 theaters, $209.3 million, five weeks. 7. “Pressure,” a drama based on the stage play with Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower planning D Day in World War II, $5.7 million in 1,829 theaters, opening. 8. “The Sheep Detectives” dropped three places, $4.6 million in 2,810 theaters, $54.5 million, four weeks. 9. “Passenger” dropped three places, $2.6 million in 2,534 theaters, $15.2 million, two weeks. 10. “Mortal Kombat II” dropped three places, $2 million in 1,603 theaters, $77.7 million, four weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 24 may be subject to change.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, May 22-24: “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” began the unofficial start of the summer movie season on Memorial Day Weekend, with $81.6 million in 4,300 theaters, opening.

2. “Obsession” moved up one place, doing better in its second week, with $23.9 million in 2,655 theaters, $54.3 million, two weeks. 3. “Michael” dropped two places from No. 1 with $20.6 million in 3,306 theaters, $314.8 million, five weeks. 4. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” dropped two places, $12.7 million in 3,300 theaters, $196.2 million, four weeks. 5. “The Sheep Detectives” stayed in place, $9.2 million in 3,207 theaters, $43.7 million, three weeks. 6. “Passenger,” a supernatural horror film, $8.7 million in 2,534 theaters, opening. 7. “Mortal Kombat II” dropped three places, $6 million in 2.726 theaters, $77.6 million, three weeks. 8. “I Love Boosters,” a comedy about a fast-fashion theft ring, $3.7 million in 1,750 theaters, opening. 9. “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” dropped three places, $3.2 million in 2,005 theaters, $423.6 million, eight weeks. 10. “Project Hail Mary” dropped three places, $2.6 million in 1,321 theaters, $339.5 million, 10 weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of May 24 may be subject to change.

Unreel, June 5:

“Masters of the Universe,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 12 minutes. Travis Knight directs Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, Alison Brie and Kristen Wiig in the Science-Fiction Action film. Synopsis: A young man on Earth is the prince of an alien planet and must recover a magic sword and return home to protect his kingdom.

“Scary Movie,” MPA rated R; 1 hour, 35 minutes. Michael Tiddes directs Regina Hall, Olivia Rose Keegan, Anna Faris, Marlon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans, Chris Elliott, Anthony Anderson and Cheri Oteri, in the Comedy Parody Horror film. Synopsis: Friends are again caught up in mayhem involving killers, monsters and supernatural creatures.

“Power Ballad,” MPA rated R, 1 hour, 38 minutes. John Carney directs Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas in the Music Drama Comedy. Synopsis: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy-band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick’s song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.

Movie opening date information from Internet Movie Database as of May 31 may be subject to change.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes