Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story

*Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story*
Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
	UK DVD cover
Written by	Claudia Salter
Directed by	Allan Moyle
Starring	Flex Alexander; Eugene Clark; Frederic Tucker; Krista Rae;
Music by	Bruce Leitl
Country of origin	United States; Canada;
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Jon Katzman; Joseph Plager; John Morayniss;
Producers	Chad Oakes; Michael Frislev;
Cinematography	David Greene
Editor	Bridget Durnford
Running time	87 minutes
Production companies	Blueprint Entertainment; Nomadic Pictures; VH1;
Original release
Network	VH1
Release	August 6, 2004

Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 biographical drama television film directed by Allan Moyle and written by Claudia Salter.^[1] It stars Flex Alexander as American pop star Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent events.^[2] The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror". Essentially a spiritual sequel to The Jacksons: An American Dream, which discussed the Jackson family as children, the film was primarily shot in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and aired on VH1 on August 6, 2004, a month prior to when Jackson's criminal trial was scheduled to begin.

Plot

A warts and all look at Michael's search for identity via his own brand of extremism alongside his peak during the Thriller era and his troubled later years.^[2]

Cast

Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson
Eugene Clark as Bobby
Theresa Browning as woman
Marty Antonini as detective #2
Tom Carey as director
Brian Copping as elder
Lynne Cormack as Elizabeth Taylor
Hugh Delaney as judge
Cedric De Souza as Martin Bashir
Talon Dunbar as little boy
Greg Farkas as male dancer
Brennan Gademans as young Michael Jackson
Jason Griffith as Jermaine Jackson
Patricia Idlette as Katherine Jackson
Samantha Kaine as Diana Ross
Liberty Kee as nanny
Margaret Avery as Martha Upshaw
Greg Lawson as detective #1
Daniel Libman as Dr. Goodman
Barbara Mamabolo as Janet Jackson
Brian Martell as Thomas
Peter Onorati as Ziggy (based on Frank DiLeo)
Duncan Pattillo as bodyguard
Lou Poulis as gardener
Brendan Prost as Manny (based on Jordan Chandler)
Brooklynn Proulx as Paris Jackson
Krista Rae as Lisa Marie Presley
Chad Riley as dance crew member
Troy Rudolph as stage manager
Carrie Schiffler as surgeon
Connor Schmidt as Benjamin Keough
Peter Skagen as attorney
Amy Sloan as Holly
William S. Taylor as Johnnie Cochran
April Telek as Debbie Rowe
Michael Tod as sick boy
Jameson Trenholm as Junkie #2
Frederic Tucker as Joe Jackson
Aidan Wilks as David (based on Gavin Arvizo)
Gerrick Winston as Tito Jackson
Chris Scheuerman as security guard (uncredited)
Braedon Mcnicol as extra (uncredited)

Award nominations

2005 – Nominated NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Flex Alexander.

Reception

The film originally aired on August 6, 2004, receiving a TV rating of TV-PG for language. The telefilm went on to receive generally negative reviews from both fans and critics alike as the film presented Jackson in a very unflattering manner and did not represent most of the true story alongside criticizing the dialogue. Unlike The Jacksons: An American Dream, none of Jackson's songs are heard, only mentioned in the telefilm.^[3]^[4]

Telelvision critic Melaine Mcfarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called the "biopoem" (as described by the director) "one of those tastelessly timed works meant to coax forth any sympathy we might have for Jackson's situation".^[5]

Home media

It is available on DVD on February 8, 2005, where it is distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment and is rated PG-13 for some brief language and thematic elements by the MPAA.^[3]