Spike Lee's Michael Jackson doc a tribute to his music
Jackson's drive to succeed and his striking talent as a singer, dancer and songwriter are the focus of Spike Lee's new documentary, "Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to 'Off the Wall,'" which made its world premiere Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival.
Beginning with the Jackson 5's earliest songs with Motown Records — featuring a charismatic 9-year-old Michael on lead vocals — the film explores Jackson's growth as an artist and the perfectionist nature that fueled his work ethic.
Archival footage of the Jacksons' performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, ''American Bandstand and their Destiny tour is interspersed with interviews with music industry talents from then and now.
"Everyone was invited to participate, but we used those who wanted to participate," said Jackson's longtime attorney John Branca, now executor of Jackson's estate and a producer of the film.
The film follows Jackson's career until the release of his groundbreaking 1979 album "Off the Wall," which paved the way for 1982's "Thriller," the best-selling album in history.