This Is It
Director: Kenny Ortega
112 minutes
1.78:1
Prior to this, Kenny Ortega is most famous for molding a generation of musical-loving teens with his High School Musical movies. But with This Is It, he will be known as the director who gave millions of people closure.
Culled from hours of rehearsal footage, This Is It shows an artist who wants to give his fans the time of their life. He wants to entertain them and show them something they've never seen before. He had the unique vision, the kind-hearted tenacity and the brilliant instinct to deliver a concert series that would have been memorable.
Ortega would be the first to say that this is not about the director. This Is It is about his friend and collaborator whose professional side is finally being revealed. But here, professional is personal and that is what makes the film captivating. This is a documentary about a concert that was a work-in-progress, one that never sees its full-dress rehearsal.
The video and sound editors did one hell of a job of making the best of what is available. The film is made up of HD and SD footage. Because it was never intended to be a concert film, it does not have the high gloss of sweeping cameras moves and wide shots. Even some of the songs are made up of two or three different rehearsal dates. But what is lacking in video, the audio makes up for it big time. The digital projection of the movie means that the performances sound fantastic, full of detail and vibrancy. It makes it an up close and personal experience, better than the best seats in the stadium.
Running only for two weeks, This Is It is a tribute to a man whose lasting legacy is his mark in music and popular culture. It is a celebration of his eternal gift to the world. Clap, shake, groove and dance to the one and only Michael Jackson.
