Dead and Loving It
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. An epitaph came to mind on the evening of 6.25.09 (i.e., the day that everyone in New York saw an all-media screening of Michael Mann‘s Public Enemies) that I didn’t post out of sensitivity to the fans. It was the same line that Gore Vidal spoke after the more-or-less-suicidal death of Truman Capote: “A wise career move.”
And, according to the Academy, a movie star.
And, according to the Academy, a movie star.
Ah, troll bait.
Real classy, Jeff. Just let it go.
Ah, troll bait.
Real classy, Jeff. Just let it go.
This certainly is blatant troll bait.
This certainly is blatant troll bait.
Let’s see, there’s THE WIZ, the theme song from BEN, MEN IN BLACK II, MISS CASTAWAY AND THE ISLAND GIRLS… His contributions to the film industry were unparalleled. He should get a posthumous Irving Thalberg Award.
Let’s see, there’s THE WIZ, the theme song from BEN, MEN IN BLACK II, MISS CASTAWAY AND THE ISLAND GIRLS… His contributions to the film industry were unparalleled. He should get a posthumous Irving Thalberg Award.
Well this adds a LOT to the national conversation.
Well this adds a LOT to the national conversation.
Agreeing with Gabe. Let’s certainly count THE WIZ, MOONWALKER, CAPTAIN EO and THIS IS IT (with bonus points for the against-type guest voice on THE SIMPSONS) as Jackson’s essential filmography and move on to other topics.
Agreeing with Gabe. Let’s certainly count THE WIZ, MOONWALKER, CAPTAIN EO and THIS IS IT (with bonus points for the against-type guest voice on THE SIMPSONS) as Jackson’s essential filmography and move on to other topics.
I think the time of seperating cinema and other visual outlets is soon over. And in filmed entertainment, the moonwalk is up there as an indelible visual moment, Jackson’s dancing is better than Fred Astaire’s, he’s worked with Scorcese, he’s practically invented a new visual medium, and is not so much a musician, but very much a movie star, in life and onscreen. Can’t defend him on many other fronts, but his place on the academy reel was justified.
My goodness that headline is completely tasteless.
There are levels. That headline is really up there though. I feel a little douche like, and i only read the thing.
Ah yes, I think we can all remember where we were and what we were doing when we first saw CAPTAIN EO, at least the 30 seconds of it that we saw on MTV News and Entertainment Tonight. A groundbreaking piece of cinema.
Ah yes, I think we can all remember where we were and what we were doing when we first saw CAPTAIN EO, at least the 30 seconds of it that we saw on MTV News and Entertainment Tonight. A groundbreaking piece of cinema.
MAGGA is right, though. Without MJ, there wouldn’t have been that legendary Corey Feldman/Meredith Salenger dance number in DREAM A LITTLE DREAM.
>Jackson’s dancing is better than Fred Astaire’s
Jackson is a great dancer, but no.
To all the slammers and dissers (who always show up and throw tomatoes, no matter what I write): Did you honestly see Jackson aging gracefully? Or aging at all, for that matter? A guy whose entire life was about recreating (or re-discovering) a lost youth that his father stole from him? And about maintaining a mood and head-space that was very adolescent and sing-songy in a kind of willowy and girlish way? Has there ever been a guy more committed to a Peter Pan lifestyle (and looking the part) in the history of showbiz? How could be have possibly faced what biology had in store for him? That’s why I felt that the Vidal quote really fit. He had come to the end of his rope, and now he’s free from the torment.
Had this been your actual post, I would have told you I was surprised at the level of class and introspection you wrote about a man whom you clearly didn’t like.
But it wasn’t.
I didn’t diss or slam you. I just think you should leave it alone. Come on, you wanted the comments on this thing to hit triple digits, and you know it.
Jeff,
Who cares? It’s not worth anyone commenting on. Especially not a year after his death.
Really, who cares?
You celebrate someone’s death, and the issue lies with the commenters, huh? Wow.
Putting aside the issues of tact or taste, and admitting upfront that I was 10 when “Thriller” came out, and I had the posters and the album and the John Landis Making-Of video….
In the last year, MJ has become more ubiquitous than he was in probably the EIGHTEEN years prior. Not denying the guy’s legacy, his legend, or his talent; But now when I’m walking down the street there’s like Armenian kids, white kids, black kids BLASTING *Michael Jackson* tunes out of their BMWs. Two, three summers ago these kids would’ve been all about Lil Wayne or Flo Rida or whatever current dogshit is out EXCLUSIVELY… The idea that Latino kids are today cranking HUMAN NATURE of all mellow-groove 1982 things at full volume like it was the most current shit ever, or that MJ gets regular radio play, seems almost surreal.
Maybe it’s just the dumb-ass white dude in me talking, but since roughly BLACK AND WHITE I’d kinda figured that Jackson Mania had shrunk by roughly 99% outside of maybe a loyal, older R&B fanbase or the denizens of many Latin American countries. Sort of like how Prince is obviously still around and making music, but everyone just kinda takes it for granted and kinda tuned out around 1990.
personal care products, how about you come over here and shave my taint?
Eff off.
(I love how insane I look once a spammer’s post gets deleted and then, if you haven’t been following the thread as it unfolded, I’m left standing on my lawn yelling, “YOU KIDS GET OUT OF MY YARD!”
I’m usually the first to slam Jeff for this kind of thing, but this time his observation is very apt. Every other year was yet another bizarro incident hitting the papers (the kiddie sleepovers, the surrogates, the baby dangling) until most of us non-fanatics simply wanted him to disappear. And that’s not including the possible pedophilia that I for one was never sure about the validity of.
I’m usually the first to slam Jeff for this kind of thing, but this time his observation is very apt. Every other year was yet another bizarro incident hitting the papers (the kiddie sleepovers, the surrogates, the baby dangling) until most of us non-fanatics simply wanted him to disappear. And that’s not including the possible pedophilia that I for one was never sure about the validity of.
I agree Deathtongue. Suddenly it’s all about celebrating his music and dancing again and not about the sordid rumors and the weird plastic surgery and all the rest of the bizarre behavior.