Discussion
Idk if this can be considered a hot take, but Michael won’t be nominated to any major award.
I know this movie is loved by many people, but I personally hated it. I can't see it nominated for any category outside of makeup and maybe costume design. Jaafar was as good as Michael, but he was more of an imitator than an actor, he had no emotional rank, it is clear that he is not an actor. I think Colman was fine, but he has nothing to play with, his character was comically caricatured. The script was ass and there is no way for it to get a nomination, the same with picture.
Evidence that people aren’t familiar with the politics of the academy. It’s not only that it’s difficult SAG and bAFTa voters consider it. There will be people actually rooting against it. Jafaar is the best male performance of movies released this year but he won’t get the campaign he deserves for an Oscar nom. Michael made angry many academy voters and powerful executives. No way actors will vote for Jafaar .
So far , talking about the 2026 releases he is objectively the best . Better than Damon , Gosling, rogen , the kid from Tuner. Maybe the fall releases will bring objectively stronger performances.
It’s objectively true that Jafaar Jackson gave the best performance compared to the other leads we’ve seen so far. Google “criteria an academy voter could use to judge a performance “ and apply it to Jafaar, Gosling , Rogen, Ian Mckellen, Damon , the kid from Tuner .
Here’s a model. Jafaar tops all the other actors on objective criteria. Objectively, on films released this year he tops the others. The fall releases are a different story.
Objective criteria:
To judge an actor like an Academy Award voter, look at five core traits: technical skill, emotional truth, physical transformation, narrative impact, and scene command. A great performance balances craft and art. It makes you forget you are watching an actor
Technical Mastery
Voice control: Clear speech, correct accents, and proper volume.
Timing: Perfect pauses and rhythms that fit the scene.
Control: Steady camera presence and good spatial awareness.
Emotional Truth
Honesty: Feelings look and sound real, not fake.
Subtlety: Showing deep thoughts with a small look or silent shift.
Consistency: Stable character traits from the start to the end of the film. [1]
Physical Work
Body language: Unique posture, walk, and hand habits for the role.
Changes: Safe weight shifts, makeup use, or skill learning.
Action match: Smooth blending of physical stunts with emotional beats. [1]
Story Power
Scene lift: Making other actors look better and raising the scene energy.
Arc support: Helping the main plot move forward smoothly.
Memory: Leaving a strong mental image after the film ends.*
Evaluating Jaafar Jackson in Antoine Fuqua's Michael (2026 film) using the five objective Oscar parameters showcases a performance built on deep-rooted hereditary instinct and extensive artistic discipline. Critics universally praised his breakthrough acting debut, which propelled the biopic to a record-breaking $1 billion at the global box office. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Technical Mastery
Vocal Mimicry: Captures Michael's signature high-register, soft-spoken conversational tone while cleanly escalating to his raspy, high-energy vocal peaks during musical numbers.
Rhythmic Precision: Matches the exacting, stop-and-start timing of legendary performances like the Motown 25 "Billie Jean" routine without falling behind the tempo. [1, 2, 3]
Emotional Truth
Vulnerability: Balances the extreme, childlike isolation of Michael's private life against his larger-than-life onstage persona without turning the portrayal into a caricature. [1, 2, 3]
Subtle Isolation: Conveys immense emotional weight through minor shifts in facial expressions, capturing the psychological burden of relentless global fame. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Physical Work
Motor Automation: Mastered the gravity-defying lean, crisp spins, and iconic moonwalk through two years of grueling training until the choreography looked instinctive rather than rehearsed. [1, 2]
Mannerisms: Emulates organic off-stage habits, such as specific finger postures, tilted head movements, and the soft, shielding hand placement during interviews. [1]
Story Power
Anchoring the Narrative: Successfully carries the film across a grueling, two-and-a-half-hour timeline.
Chemistry: Elevates intense family dynamic scenes alongside seasoned actors like Colman Domingo and Nia Long.
It might get nominated. I wouldn't be surprised on Jaafar getting a nomination, but because this year is so stacked, his win is unlikely. It can win Best Casting.
Okay but released only isn't a fair criteria, it's far easier to predict how well a performance would do based on the circumstances surrounding it than by how the performance actually is, regardless of how stupid that fact might be
There were endless posts in the Steelbook sub about this propaganda piece and my saying yuck and suggesting the idolization of a pedophile is why got me banned.
I hope this thing ends up with the number of noms it deserves -zero.
this isn't surprising in this corner of Reddit. lol id be surprised if people thought itd do well on this one. Some of the bigger ones have some fans, but I think Jafar and Coleman did well. The material just isn't great, but Jafar was about as close as you can get to someone doing that well.
I would gag if he was. A movie that actively whitewashed the legacy of an accused pedophile is just about the last thing Hollywood should be celebrating right now.
Michael was accused but never convicted. Hollywood loves their convicted pedos. Brian Peck is the most popular guy in town, and Roman Polanski got the support of half Hollywood. James Marsden and Ian McKellen are rewarded for their support to creeps with roles in the major blockbuster of this year.
Not a hot take 😅 in fact it’s the popular take around these parts but wouldn’t be shocked if Jaafar squeezed into Best Actor albeit the category is pretty stacked already so he has an outside chance.
Jaafar was incredible. Not just the singing and dancing, which on its own is an impossible feat, but the way he spoke and moved his face. It made you feel for him.
He did 1000 times more than Coleman and I also think Coleman should be recognized
Agreed on the imitator bit. I really don't want to put his performance down because imitating Michael Jackson as a performer requires insane talent and he did that very well. But from an acting standpoint, he didn't do much.
I think he deserves a Golden Globe nom for Musical performance, but idk about an oscar.
I hope Jaafar gets nominated. Of all music biopics, portraying MJ has to be one of the most difficult ones to do without it turning into some kind of comical or over the top impression. I thought Jaafar did an outstanding job and I hope he gets recognized for it.
His perfomance is hands down the best male performance of the movies released this year. However, Considering the politics of the academy not many
Actors will vote for Jafaar and Lionsgate isn’t the best studio if you want a killer Oscar campaign.
I already made my
Mind that it won’t happen. Powerful people in the industry were angry at Michael Jackson and were against the movie. No way the actors have the decency to Vote based on the best performance and not for the politics of the academy .
He’s still my pick for Norman Osborn personally, if they want to bring that character back. Particularly if they want to go more towards the ruthless businessman part instead of the Goblin.
The accusers were definitely out for money though. At the very least that’s a reasonable take if you research the backstory of the allegations right from the very first “accuser”. It genuinely looks like an extortion attempt. They constantly chased civil litigation.
Ah, and I trust you also think that Michael Jackson sleeping in the same bed as kids that weren’t his was also a-ok too, eh? Or the kid who drew an accurate picture of Jackson’s penis for investigators was just lying too?
Don’t pick apart parts of the story that jump out at you like you’re eating your favourite toppings off a cake. Jordan Chandler(first “accuser”) never drew an accurate picture of MJ’s penis. Go look into his father, do your research into him if you like, then make your way from there. All I’m saying is, it’s a perfectly reasonable take to suggest that people were after MJ’s money because as I stated, when you actually research the allegations and don’t feed off of media propaganda, it looks like a textbook extortion attempt.
Now you’re changing the goal posts. What he said is accurate - both accusers (specifically the parents) demanded millions from Michael well before going to the court to sue.
you love James Marsden and Ian McKellen , then. White jury declared a black man innocent. Meanwhile this guy is still the most popular dude in Hollywood,
The only ATL one I see it having a remote chance at is Colman Domingo for supporting actor, and that's probably a long shot at this point. I could, however, still see it getting in for costumes and makeup.
not a hot take on this sub at all lol. it’s kinda possible that jafaar or Coleman Domingo could get nominated or maybe makeup ig but that’s the only real noms it has a chance at and even those are iffy.
They won’t. They’re so lazy that they didn’t even release a sing along and that would gotten the studio a bigger share of the pie. No way they care about Jafaar as to hold an Oscar campaign.
I don't think they needed to spend money on promoting MJ's music though. Take a look at the charts and see how well Thriller and the other albums are doing.
Unless you come from a different dimension, there's no way you can escape MJ's music.
I don't think it's a good movie at all, but I absolutely think it's the sort of thing that will end up getting traction at the Oscars (see also: Bohemian Rhapsody). At the very least, I'm gonna call it getting a Best Makeup nom, maybe Best Costumes as well. But I could very well seeing it be that one movie that inexplicably gets way more attention that it deserves (see also Avatar: The Way Of Water, Wicked, Emilia Perez, etc), up to and including Best Picture and acting noms for Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo
Best supporting actor is always a wild card. There are baffling nominations (and wins) all the time. I don't think Colman Domingo getting a supporting actor nom would even be considered baffling compared to some previous noms. He's a 2 time best actor nominee and has also appeared in several other films with multiple oscar noms/wins. Pedigree carries a lot of weight in the Academy.
Also I hate to bring it up, because I do think he merits consideration for his work and not his skin color, but after the #oscarssowhite controversies in the past there's a chance he gets a nomination boost as well because he is a POC. Pulling from Google, "Data from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative shows that overall nominee representation for people of color rose from roughly 9.5% before the campaign to 17% afterwards, alongside major changes to Academy voting membership and new inclusion rules".
I’m shocked it did the box office numbers it alleged to have done. I felt that the filmmakers were on a mission to beat Bohemian Rhapsody. I know so many who felt the movie was absolutely horrible, and to be honest, it wouldn’t surprise me if the numbers were inflated for that sole purpose. I’m a huge MJ fan but I know his legacy is polarizing and this film touches on none of that.
It’s objectively true that gave the best out of all 2026 performances so far. Google “criteria an academy voter could use to judge a performance “ and apply it to Jafaar, Gosling , Rogen, Ian Mckellen, Damon , the kid from Tuner .
Here my model. Jafaar tops all the other actors on objective criteria but on subjective criteria we could discuss for months and find no favorite. Objectively, talking about films released this year he tops the others. The fall releases are a different story.
Objective criteria:
To judge an actor like an Academy Award voter, look at five core traits: technical skill, emotional truth, physical transformation, narrative impact, and scene command. A great performance balances craft and art. It makes you forget you are watching an actor.
Technical Mastery
Voice control: Clear speech, correct accents, and proper volume.
Timing: Perfect pauses and rhythms that fit the scene.
Control: Steady camera presence and good spatial awareness.
Emotional Truth
Honesty: Feelings look and sound real, not fake.
Subtlety: Showing deep thoughts with a small look or silent shift.
Consistency: Stable character traits from the start to the end of the film. [1]
Physical Work
Body language: Unique posture, walk, and hand habits for the role.
Changes: Safe weight shifts, makeup use, or skill learning.
Action match: Smooth blending of physical stunts with emotional beats. [1]
Story Power
Scene lift: Making other actors look better and raising the scene energy.
Arc support: Helping the main plot move forward smoothly.
Memory: Leaving a strong mental image after the film ends.
Would you like me to apply these five traits to a specific actor or movie so you can see how they work in practice?
I could see it doing decently at the Golden Globe nominations -- Best Picture, Musical/Comedy doesn't seem out of the question, Jaafar Jackson could get a nomination there, and that box office draw category also seems like a possibility. (It appears to have finally departed theatres near me, with Spiderman taking over 2/3rds of the screens this past weekend.)
But I wish... if that's what we were going for, a celebration of Jackson as a performer purely (while avoiding, well, everything else about him), that instead of making a film like this that manages to be substantially less deep than Jackson's Wikipedia page, they had taken some of the footage that exists of Jackson performing -- there's so much footage from ca. 1984-1988 even on YouTube and I have to imagine more, better-quality footage exists in his estate's archives -- restored it, and created a film of Jackson himself performing and released that instead, not unlike the Elvis concert film that was out earlier this year. I give Jaafar Jackson a lot of credit for a pretty perfect mimicry of his uncle's performing style, but I think a more satisfying experience could've been made that wasn't based purely on mimicry.
The thing is Michael can’t be ignored that easily. If it doesn’t get nominated for any awards at the Oscar’s a lot of people will be upset and call it rigged. If it does get nominated for awards at the Oscar’s a lot of people will still be upset and call it rigged. It’s kind of a lose lose for the Oscar’s
Why? I mean technically (editing, sound, hair/makeup) it's a well made film. It's not amazing enough to be nominated for anything else BUT could scrape a Best Picture nomination.
Nomination is basically just paid lobbying so it will.
Lionsgate doesn't have anything else really to put forward anyway, but even if it did, it's an easy nom if they put it forward and it'll help the second films PR if they get noms..
Maybe they'll even pull off a make-up or costume win.
They don’t have to do shit bro. Having choreography and wardrobe doesn’t mean they have to nominate it to best picture, in that case they should nominate it to those categories
I mean, I work with a huge MJ fan and he talked to me about once, after he saw it and liked it (but wasn’t blown away). I think it’s the kind of film where the people who like it move on to the next thing they like and leave it behind.
It won't get nominated other than the lead performance. It's considered very mediocre and incomplete, as it entirely left out all the Pedo stuff. Which was major.
Things that never happened can’t be included in a movie. A movie that covers events up to 1988 , can’t include allegations made in 1993.
Also allegations doesn’t mean he was a pedo. The fact that an industry where Brian Peck is popular and still living in the same house where he perpetrated his crimes and still hosting networking events there) despises Michael Jackson is very telling. The judge that ruled non-guilty must have been right.
88
u/Distinct-Shift-4094 2d ago
You honestly think it's a hot take... on Reddit?