This Is It (2009)

This documentary comprised of the rehearsal footage of Michael Jackson’s final concert tour shot shortly before his death is still one of the best “concert” films I’ve ever seen. No, it’s not Scorsese’s THE LAST WALTZ but in addition to being a testament to Michael Jackson’s star power and master entertainer, it lets us see how a show is put together. Director Kenny Ortega pieces together various rehearsals (during one number, Jackson can be seen in 2 or 3 different sets of clothes) seamlessly to allow us to see how the show would have looked. The show seems about 90% complete and Jackson is in superb form. It would have been nice if there were just a bit more footage of the dancer auditions (one of the film’s many highlights) but it’s a minor complaint.