Michael Jackson and Brett Ratner: The Pajama Party Years

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Much like last week's devastating Pixar house-call story, Brett Ratner's remembrance today of Michael Jackson requires little embellishment, comment or elaboration. Which is good, because my jaw is locked open. Let it suffice to say that they bonded over Chris Tucker's dance moves from the first Rush Hour film, enjoyed their own dance-offs at Neverland Ranch and, when they finally felt at ease with other, hung around in their pajamas and made movies.

Take it away, Brett (via Patrick Goldstein):

Over the years, Ratner and Jackson spent an enormous amount of time together. They would film each other, with Jackson asking Ratner about how he became a film director and Ratner asking Jackson about how he became an entertainer. "I have hours of footage of us, sitting around in our pajamas, with me asking him about what kind of music he loved as a kid, what kind of books he had on the wall as a kid. When you were with him, you really felt like God was within him. He was an amazing, superhuman kind of person, but he always treated you as an equal. He would be your friend and he never asked for anything in return." [...]

Ratner and Jackson would watch movies together. He says they must've watched the original version of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 50 times over the years. [...] "He was the most inspirational person in my life. His one dream was to cure all the sick children in the world. And when I'd say, 'Isn't that impossible?' Michael would just start to cry. He was very emotional about things that moved him. I guess you'd have to say he was a pure innocent in a world that wasn't so innocent anymore."

Aww! I think we just found our next Rat Press entry.

· Brett Ratner on Michael Jackson: 'You felt like God was within him' [Big Picture]



Comments

  • stolidog says:

    yup, a pure innocent.

  • Inhaler says:

    Innocent, except when he was diddling.

  • MCU says:

    "I have a dream which, while sweet and sentimental, is impossible, unrealistic, and essentially illogical."
    "Oh really? Cool. How are you going to do that?"
    (beat)
    [Starts to cry]
    Nope, that doesn't sound like no crazy.

  • george says:

    lisen , regardless of his personal issues he was the king of pop and his music/dancing was the best there was, Why dont u leave his soul alone and let him rest in peace.

  • sweetbiscuit says:

    He had me [freaked out] at "pajamas."

  • Lex says:

    Thanks to Brett Ratner for this emotional account of his friendship with Michael. I always knew he was a 'superhuman kind of person', as he describes him, but hearing him from his friend is absolutely endearing. There can be no other Michael Jackson - dare i say, he healed this world by making so many lives brighter. Thank you, Michael.