tech
From Michael to Back to Black, authorised music biopics are becoming bland, blatant propaganda. Audiences deserve better
Swerving the child abuse allegations, the new Michael Jackson film is yet another revisionist music movie in a long line. We know what’s in it for their subjects. What about the viewers?
TL;DR
- The new Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael', like other authorized music films, offers a sanitized version of the artist's life, focusing on 'pure escapism' and omitting controversial aspects.
- The trend of authorized music biopics, exemplified by films like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Rocketman', prioritizes the music and a clean narrative, often at the expense of historical accuracy and complex truths.
- These films are driven by estates and studios aiming to manage legacies, control narratives, and capitalize on familiar intellectual property, rather than offering deep dives into artists' lives.
- While commercially successful, these biopics often flatten the humanity of the artists, obscuring elements like sexuality, drug use, or controversial allegations, to create more palatable stories.
- Audiences seeking deeper insights into artists' motivations and conflicts should demand braver films that are willing to explore darker themes and present a more complete picture, as seen in films like 'Better Man' or 'A Complete Unknown'.