A look at the greatest accomplishment of ‘Michael’

Much has already been said about “Michael,” the Michael Jackson biopic. Most notably about the pressure from those who want to put forth a sanitized image for the departed King of Pop.

And how this clipped the claws of the usually intrepid screenwriter John Logan (“Skyfall” and “Gladiator”) and director Antoine Fuqua (“Training Day” and “The Equalizer”) leading to a wholesome effect.

So, all that is now over and done. Critics and ordinary viewers have said their fill and are now focused on other films. Besides, the producers and the Jackson family must be happy now that “Michael” is making a lot of money at the box-office globally and all those watching are seeing a cleaned-up MJ. So, I say that it is now time to take a look at the movie’s greatest accomplishment.

There are many among us who only remember Michael Jackson as tabloid fodder regarding sexual misconduct allegations during the ‘90s. That is grossly unfair. But with the arrival of “Michael,” they have now been given the opportunity to really listen, enjoy the music he created and marvel at the genius of the shy and soft-spoken kid from Indiana.

“Michael” presents MJ’s beginnings as a 10-year-old with an awesome falsetto thrust into show business by his slave driver of a father, Joe Jackson. Then it covers his rise to fame, first as part of the Jackson Five with his brothers and then on to his solo career, on to the incredible Thriller days and then ends with the massively successful “Bad” tour, which crowns him as the undisputed King of Pop.

That is roughly only about 10 years of MJ’s life. But it was during that decade when the music literally just burst out of him in torrents. The result includes some of the best, most innovative and most memorable recordings ever created. Because of this, the movie’s (“Michael”) storytelling comes with great music.

Take a look at what tracks are in the soundtrack:

I’ll Be There is a most affecting ballad recorded when MJ was only 10 years old. It’s the fourth No. 1 seller in a row for the Jackson Five.

Never Can Say Goodbye, a Jackson Five original in disco mode, was so good that disco diva Gloria Gaynor decided to cover it herself.

Who’s Lovin’ You is from 1969 and a cover of a song by Smoky Robinson and the Miracles.

I Want You Back, ABC and The Love You Save are the No. 1 triumvirate from 1970. The boys conquered the hit charts with these songs.

Ben is MJ’s first solo recording that won him a Golden Globe for Best Song from a Motion Picture. Would you believe this song dedicated to a rat was originally meant for Donnie Osmond? He was on tour and could not record. So, the producer in a hurry got MJ instead, and a revelation. Michael could be a solo star.

Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough and Workin’ Day and Night are from the 1979 album “Off the Wall.” Funky disco tunes introduced MJ as co-producer of his album alongside Quincy Jones.

“Thriller” (1982), the album, was pop, disco, R&B, sexy and lots of fun. The cuts proved to be most memorable.

In Beat It, MJ was a rocker with a mean guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen.

Billie Jean. Remember that hiccup and MJ moonwalking on loafers.

Wanna Be Startin’ Something, “Thriller”’s disco single, is about rumormongers.

Human Nature is written by Steve Porcaro of Toto, who brought in the band and gave MJ a Toto moment.

Thriller is a great tune, but truly fun is the video based on “An American Werewolf in London” and directed by Jon Landis.

Bad. 1987. The song. The video. The jacket. MJ at his edgiest. The Jackson pandemonium was on its way.

I am a bit disappointed that the soundtrack missed out on my favorite MJ songs, Rock with You and She’s Out My Life. Those were among the ones produced by Quincy for the “Off the Wall” album. Grammy winners both, they show MJ transitioning from Motown R&B into a grown-up artist for the world.

But no matter, “Michael” provides an excellent primer for would-be MJ fans, and the musical numbers make the admission price and time spent in the theater truly worth it.

In a way, it is just as well that the film chose to focus on MJ’s early days. The picture is most entertaining. Everybody comes out happy, and maybe Michael Jackson also had happy moments during those times.