First Impressions of Michael Jackson's This Is It: A Movieline IM Exchange

SETH: the whole specter of Bob Fosse loomed large over the proceedings. from the chorus line cattle call to that amazing scaffold cityscape

STV: that's the best thing about it to me: it's like a concert doc/experimental/narrative/musical hybrid. and when they converge for that kind of impromptu greenscreen dance rehearsal on they don't care about us

SETH: with the Rhythm Nation riot squad?

STV: yeah

SETH: that was rad. the dancers' testimony at the beginning and their general worship of him moved me.

STV: yeah they had me with the opening footage

SETH: the only thing, i wish they had done the closing credits with the costumes on a mannequin in various poses. that would have been haunting and satisfying, cause i really wanted to see them. it took until they interviewed the wardrobe guy who said they invented new wearable technology for the tour to realize that those flashy clothes he had on were just his rehearsal clothes. his Billie Jean outfit was going to LIGHT UP.

STV: i wish they'd done more split screen. the three split screens at the end of "human nature." the compare/contrast of those slinking moves. i LOVED that

SETH: i loved the whole back and forth with the keyboardist

STV: god that was the best "play it like i wrote it!" that jackson 5 sequence was a little disheartening. i know MJ cited tech difficulties, but he looked like he was in a vacuum. like he was kinda floating through some extended repressed memory

SETH: is that the sequence when he complains his ear monitors are like 'fists pushing into his head?'

STV: Yeah

SETH: maybe he was just flashing back to rehearsals with joe

STV: haha yeah. ok so what was your favorite moment?

SETH: i loved the toaster part, where dancers are taught how to behave like ejected slices of bread

STV: that was definitely up there

SETH: the black and white guitar solo sequence, 'This is your time to shine -- hit your highest note -- hold it longer!'

STV: "waaaaaaaaa"

SETH: what was the best number. smooth criminal? they dont really care about us?

STV: probably

SETH: earth song?

STV: earth song made me wanna puke

SETH: but that TRACTOR. and the KILLER BUTTERFLIES

STV: if i never see a little girl with an orca on her t-shirt waking up in a gutted rain forest saving a plant from a giant tractor again, it'll be too soon

SETH: i felt like michael was trying to tell us something in that movie, but i couldnt quite make out the symbolism

STV: that duet on "i just can't stop loving you" was so fun. so sweet and playful. like, who would argue against that kind of stuff going public? it's so sincerely him

SETH: what about michael's ominous message during the group huddle -- that we have only 'four more years.' it was like the dark flip side of a GOP convention

STV: i dunno, probably a shameless plus for 2012, coming to theaters this fall from Sony!

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