'Michael' Review: An Entertaining, Estate-approved Biopic

Michael tells the story of the singer Michael Jackson and his journey to become the eponymous King of Pop. Growing up as a poor black kid in Gary, Indiana, young Michael (Juliano Valdi) joins his family’s all-boy band, The Jackson 5, managed by his father, Joe Jackson (Colman Domingo). Due to Joe relentlessly pushing the boys with rigorous practices and demanding performances, the group gets signed by Motown Records and starts climbing the charts, with little Michael stealing the show as the lead vocalist.

Years later as an adult, Michael (Jaafar Jackson) desperately wants to break away from the group and his father’s stranglehold on his career and life, which he feels is holding him back from his ambitions and reaching his potential. But despite his best efforts, Joe manages to keep pulling the kindhearted Michael back into his orbit. Will Michael be able to break free and become the superstar he’s always dreamed of?

The film covers the first half of Michael Jackson’s life, beginning with his formative years in The Jackson 5, shifting to his meteoric rise to stardom as a solo artist, and culminating with his iconic Bad tour. While there are many aspects of Michael’s persona to explore, the film mostly focuses on how Michael’s rigorous upbringing, devoid of a real childhood, led him to exhibit childlike behavior into his adult years and on Joe as the one-note villain of his story. So the repeated references to MJ’s love of Peter Pan and defeating Captain Hook are not subtle. 

While areas of Michael’s life are ignored or glossed over, it’s important to remember that Michael is not a documentary, but rather a film made by Michael Jackson’s estate to entertain fans and introduce a new generation to the Moonwalker—hence why Michael’s lawyer and estate executor, John Branca (Miles Teller) gets a rosy, altruistic depiction. The film was initially supposed to cover Michael’s entire life, opening with a raid of Neverland Ranch, but due to late-in-the-game legal discoveries, the scenes featuring the child abuse allegations had to be scrapped. It will be interesting to see how Michael’s life is tackled in part 2.

But speaking of entertaining, entertain it does!

Michael is a biopic and rock concert smoothly wrapped into one film, deftly covering many of the major personal and musical highlights of MJ’s life. From The Jackson 5 touring around the country in fairs singing their classics (“I'll Be There”, “I Want You Back” and “ABC”) to seeing the highlights of the Thriller years, such as the making of the “Thriller” music video and the iconic Motown 25 performance of “Billie Jean.” The final 30 minutes crescendos as Michael reluctantly performs with his brothers in the Victory Tour, singing his own hits (“Human Nature”, “Working Day and Night”), and ends with an electric, show-stopping performance of “Bad.”

In his debut acting role, Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, has big penny loafers to fill portraying his uncle, but brings the house down. Criticisms of nepotistic casting are thrown out the window from the first scene, where Jaafar becomes Michael, honoring him in every aspect of his performance from his look, voice, demeanor, and dance moves. Colman Domingo and Nia Long also shine depicting the dichotomy of his parents, Joe and Katherine, respectively; however, the brothers are mostly throwaway background characters, reflecting how it felt to be in Jackson’s shadow.

There are myriad directions you could take a Michael biopic. Instead of focusing on the controversial and depressing elements, Michael focuses on humanizing Michael Jackson, highlighting his goodness, and celebrating his timeless music. If you missed seeing Michael on tour back in the day, this just may be the next best thing.

Michael hits theaters on April 24, 2026.

★★★★½

'Reagan' Review: From Tinsel Town to the Oval Office

Reagan tells the story of the 40th American president, Ronald Reagan (Dennis Quaid). He starts as a well-known and beloved actor before stepping into the political arena as governor of California. He then takes it to the next level, ultimately defeating Jimmy Carter to become president of the United States. The story unfolds through the eyes of a fictional KGB spy tasked with tracking Reagan’s rising career, highlighting how someone like Ronald Reagan could rise to such heights.

Known for his fierce opposition to communism, socialism, and the Soviet Union, the film centers on Reagan’s eventual takedown of the Berlin Wall and the decline of Soviet power. Yet, the more compelling parts come from his personal life—his relationships and relatability. It’s a delight to see this California cowboy on his Malibu ranch.

That being said, as most presidential biopics, the film is a hagiography. That’s because to some Republicans, Ronald Reagan is as saintly as a president as you can get in modernity. As a result, the film’s not going to waste time showing or exploring the issues for which his detractors rail him. If you’re wanting a takedown of the man and his policies, look elsewhere.

Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan giving a speech from the Oval Office. | Credit: Noah "Nanea" Hamilton

The film’s journey has been rocky. Made years ago, it struggled to find a distributor, and even now, Facebook has restricted its advertising, labeling it “election interference.” Ironically, this mirrors the censorship and authoritarianism Reagan fought against. Dennis Quaid delivers a phenomenal performance as Reagan, capturing him from a vibrant man in his 40s to his later years riddled with dementia. The CGI and physical makeup effects for aging are mostly impressive, though they’re a bit noticeable and distracting early on when de-aging Quaid is most needed.

As a Republican president, Reagan’s story might tempt some to dismiss this film outright; however, that would be a mistake. The values he championed—freedom, resilience—remain vital, and his impact on America, during and after his tenure, endures to this day. Understanding this history helps us see where we’ve been and chart the best path forward. Reagan is a patriotic tribute to one of America’s most iconic Republican presidents, whether you like him or not. While it might not appeal to everyone, its subject matter matters to all. For that reason, it’s worth a watch.

★★★½

Reagan opened in theaters on August 30, 2024.

Review: Fathom Events 25th Anniversary 'The Lord of the Rings'

For a variety of reasons, it seems every film is getting a milestone rerelease nowadays. Most are fun romps to see a favorite film back on the big screen. But for a very few films, these are iconic events to see a masterpiece of cinema shine again on the silver screen. Fathom Events’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 25th anniversary screenings of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy are one of these events that should not be missed.

The award-winning The Lord of the Rings consists of three movies based on the J.R.R Tolkien novels of the same name: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. These three films aren’t shown back-to-back marathon-style, but instead one movie is shown each day for three subsequent days for two weekends only (January 16-18 and 23-25, 2026). While this format may be disappointing to those who are used to binging content, the break between films was refreshing and allowed for the excitement to build throughout the weekend, ending the culmination of the epic final act.

The extended editions—Peter Jackson’s director’s cut—of The Lord of the Rings have become the defacto versions for the fandom. However, these version were found only on the Extended Editions DVDs after the films’ original theatrical run, so having the opportunity to finally see these on the big screen is a real treat. While the original versions are already long, these versions range from 3 hours, 48 minutes (The Fellowship of the Ring) to a whopping 4 hours, 23 minutes (The Return of the King). Despite this, the viewing passes in a blink of an eye, leaving you fully satisfied.

Seeing films with likeminded fans enhanced the experience tremendously. It was fun seeing the same group show up to the theater each day. Whether you went alone, with a friend, or with a group, you knew that you were in good company who loved and admired The Lord of the Rings films as much as you.

While these showings are now done, one can hope that Fathom Events will see how successful these were and repeat it later this year (it’s still the anniversary year, after all). If there ever is an encore showing in 2026 or for future inevitable 30th anniversary showings, do not let this pass you by. Seeing the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings is a a core cinematic experience that you won’t want to miss.

Fathom Events’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ 25th anniversary screenings of The Lord of the Rings trilogy played on January 16-18 and 23-25, 2026.

'David' (2025) Review: A Giant Leap of Faith

After the success of its first Christian animated film, King of Kings, earlier this year, Angel Studios is taking a crack at another animated bible adaptation—this time with the highly anticipated David. 

David tells the biblical story of David (Phil Wickham / Brandon Engman as young David), a shepherd boy who is secretly anointed to be king of Israel by the prophet Samuel (Brian Stivale), despite King Saul (Adam Michael Gold) still sitting on the throne. When David is called up to play his harp for King Saul, he wins over the king and eventually is chosen to fight the Philistine warrior Goliath (Kamran Nikhad). This saves the Israelites from bondage and David remains in Saul's favor, allowing him to grow up in the palace with Saul's son Jonathan (Mark Jacobson).

While it would be easy to simply focus the film on David defeating the Philistine giant Goliath and call it a day (and subsequently setting up a sequel), the filmmakers don't go with the obvious play and instead push the narrative further. The story of David is robust and complex, so in David, we see David grow from a young faith-filled shepherd boy to a young man. David's relationship with King Saul, Jonathan, and the impending threat of the Amalekites elevate the film. That being said, exploring these other avenues drags the runtime nearly to the two-hour mark, making it feel a bit too long and bloated.

Faith-based films, while aspirational and well-intentioned, typically have never been top-tier in quality, as the message is prioritized over entertainment. The notable exception in the animated world is DreamWorks' masterpiece, The Prince of Egypt, and this film will obviously be compared to that. And luckily for David, it lives up. There are quite a few parallels between Moses and David, with one being their pseudo brothers of Ramses and Jonathan, respectively. God, faith, and religion are heavily emphasized and are not watered down.

It can be difficult to portray a character like David, who is the epitome of faith and never waivers in his belief and trust in God. However, instead of being unrelatable, his character is inspiring and continually turning back to God to help him through his trials. This is a family film and the filmmakers do a great job of simplifying the message and balancing the heavier elements of the story. The themes of light vs. darkness are tackled simply; contrasting how David's trust in God brings light, while Saul's focus on the self brings darkness.

The songs, written by Swedish songwriter Jonas Myrin, reiterate these themes even more. "Follow the Light" is a simple, yet repetitive earworm. David is known for his musical skills with the lyre, so it his singing feels natural and appropriate. "Adventure Song", "Shalom", "I Will Not Be Afraid", and "Tapestry" are toe-tapping and catchy. The film is a bonafide musical and the songs elevate the final film.

The animation, done by the South African Sunrise Animation Studios, is top-notch and Hollywood quality. In an age where it seems all animated films look the same, the character designs are distinct, stylized, and interesting. David is striking with his green eyes and curly locks, the prophet Samuel with his bushy beard is rotund, soft, and inviting; and Goliath the Philistine feels otherworldly and larger than life with his pale skin and towering physique.

David was the highest-funded Kickstarter media project in history, raising over $49.7 million. The final product delivered and was worth the wait. It brings together the best of animation, musical and story to tell a satisfying biblical story that the whole family can enjoy.

David releases in theaters on December 19, 2025.

★★★★

'Snow Bear': A Delightful 2D Animated Short that Will Melt Your Heart

"11,000 drawings. 3 years. 1 artist." This encapsulates the painstaking effort that went into creating Snow Bear, the new hand-drawn animated short from renowned Disney animator and director Aaron Blaise.

Inspired by Blaise's own experience of loneliness after the death of his wife, Snow Bear tells the story of of a lone polar bear who creates a bear friend out of snow. He strikes up an imaginary friendship with this bear, playing, frolicking, and roughhousing in the frigid arctic. However, eventually the reality of this faux friend becomes something the bear must finally confront head on.

The star of the short is the masterful hand-drawn animation, every frame done by Blaise himself. Blaise, who directed Disney's Brother Bear, is prolific for his expertise in animating animals, so seeing him showcase these skills in all their uninhibited glory is a delight. The polar bear is expressive and engaging (as are all the other critters he meets along the way) and, despite the lack of dialogue, this doesn't hinder his ability to communicate the scope of his feelings. Traditional animation is able to connect to audiences in a unique and ineffable way that CGI cannot, so watching this short makes you long for what we no longer see in mainstream animation.

The story is funny, sweet, and tender. It's fun to see the antics of the optimistic polar bear as he discovers the futility of having a fragile buddy made out of snow. The ten-minute short artfully uses its time to explore these silly moments with more serious and reflective moments of sorrow. The short perfectly wraps up, melting your heart in the process.

Speaking of heart, the heart of the short is the universal desire for companionship. The snow bear serves as a temporary, hollow replacement for this need, but never fully scratches that itch. The ephemeral nature of the snow bear eventually forces the polar bear to sit and reflect on his situation, which is raw, emotional, and stirring. 

Blaise's love and mastery of traditional animation and storytelling are on full display in Snow Bear. This delightful, hand-drawn animated short will make you laugh, cry, and ponder the deeper parts of life.

Snow Bear is available to view on Aaron Blaise's YouTube channel.

★★★★★