Michael Jackson Biopic Leaves Some Cold, While Rops Exhibition Explores Morality's Boundaries

The Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) offers a cultural roundup that touches upon a new Michael Jackson biopic and an exhibition of Félicien Rops. While the biopic 'Michael' is noted for Jaafar Jackson's impressive portrayal of his uncle, the NZZ points out the film's superficiality, suggesting it avoids the more complex and darker aspects of the pop icon's life. The review implies that the film, produced with input from Jackson family members, prioritizes a sanitized version of the story, stopping short of exploring the controversies that defined much of the public's perception of Michael Jackson. This approach, the NZZ suggests, misses an opportunity for deeper artistic and biographical exploration, leaving the audience with a sense of what could have been.

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And the young man has the moves and the timbre of the uncle.

In contrast, the exhibition on Félicien Rops is presented with more enthusiasm. The NZZ positions Rops as a significant figure in Belgian symbolism, comparable to Khnopff and Ensor, whose work anticipated Surrealism. His reputation as a scandalous artist abroad, who used his art to critique sexual double standards and clerical hypocrisy, is emphasized. The article highlights Rops' bohemian lifestyle and his connections to literary and artistic circles in Paris, drawing parallels to contemporary art movements. The exhibition at the Kunsthaus is framed as an essential look into the 'shadow world of old Paris' and a 'laboratory of lusts,' suggesting a more profound and challenging artistic experience compared to the biopic.

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This performance is worth the cinema visit.