Antoine Fuqua's biopic sidesteps any controversy by focusing on the singer's early career, but stands out for the way it recreates the electricity of his live performances.

Antoine Fuqua’s film has bullying, bravura music and a haunting CGI Bubbles but does little to illuminate the man or his genius

"Michael," in theaters Friday, recreates Michael Jackson's greatest hits with the familiar shorthand for which biopics are rightfully mocked.