This Is It (2009)

Director:

Kenny Ortega

Release Date:

28 October 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

Like You've Never Seen Him Before

Plot:

A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. |

Plot Keywords:

Rehearsal | Surprise After End Credits | Pop Star | Star Died Before Release | Live Music

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Michael Jackson	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Al	...	Himself - Electric and Synth Bass
Nick Bass	...	Himself - Dancer
Michael Bearden	...	Himself - Keyboards
Daniel Celebre	...	Himself - Dancer
Mekia Cox	...	Herself - Dancer
Misha Gabriel	...	Himself - Dancer
Chris Grant	...	Himself - Dancer
Judith Hill	...	Herself - Vocalist
Dorian Holley	...	Himself - Vocal Director
Shannon Holtzapffel	...	Himself - Dancer
Devin Jamieson	...	Himself -Dancer (as Devin Andrew Jamieson)
Bashiri Johnson	...	Himself - Percussion
Charles Klapow	...	Himself - Dancer
Jonathan Moffett	...	Himself - Drums
Tommy Organ	...	Himself - Guitar
Orianthi	...	Herself - Lead Guitar (as Orianthi Panagaris)
Kenny Ortega	...	Himself
Darryl Phinnessee	...	Himself - Vocalist
Mo Pleasure	...	Himself - Keyboards / Trumpet
Dres Reid	...	Himself - Dancer
Ken Stacey	...	Himself - Vocalist
Tyne Stecklein	...	Herself - Dancer
Timor Steffens	...	Himself - Dancer
Stacy Walker	...	Herself - Assistant Choreographer

Also Known As:

Michael Jackson's This Is It (USA) (complete title)
Michael Jackson's This Is It: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some suggestive choreography and scary images.

Runtime:

USA:111 min | Argentina:112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Japan:G | USA:PG (certificate #45652) | Norway:7 | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | UK:PG | South Korea:All | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/6 | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Australia:G | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Mexico:A | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Staples Center - 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

The footage was originally intended for the private library of Michael Jackson. It was also to be used to help the concert's creative team analyze, review and alter aspects of the show before completion.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Michael Jackson: God bless you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Taylor Swift (#35.5)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

I Just Can't Stop Loving You

Coming from a non-Michael Jackson fan...

I haven't been since I was a kid. I therefore had zero expectations for this movie, and even groaned that I had to come in at 6 this morning to preview it for my theater. That said, I was completely blown away and entertained from beginning to end. His voice and his dance moves are top form and timeless. He sang all his greatest hits, even from the J5 era, which really hit a soft spot with me. And people might be complaining that this isn't a typical concert movie...in truth, that is a big plus here. Typical concert movies are overly produced. The intimacy of this footage makes you feel, not like you're in a concert, but like you're witness to very private performances. You get to see first hand how involved this man was (to every little detail of production and planning). There are no crowds of screaming and crying fans to have to sit through (with the exception of a brief opening scene in which the auditioning dancers get a little too blubbery at times). This film easily reignited my appreciation for the man, who was without a doubt one of the greatest entertainers of our time. Complete 180 for me, I'll be the first to admit. And a side note, his female guitarist (her name escapes me) had me picking my jaw up off the floor, and not just her looks. You'll see what I mean.