This Is It

Right now you can watch This Is It in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Sundance Now — and it earns the access it was given. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 1,076 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Rigorous in a way documentary storytelling does not always commit to. Put it on tonight on Stan and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, This Is It is worth clearing space for. This Is It resists the urge to oversimplify a subject that deserves better. A compilation of interviews, rehearsals and backstage footage of Michael Jackson as he prepared for his series of sold-out shows in London. Michael Jackson and Orianthi lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. This Is It lets its subjects speak for themselves rather than shaping them into a predetermined narrative. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Anyone after documentary work that genuinely informs rather than confirms will value This Is It. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Rigorous in a way documentary work does not always commit to. Not background viewing — it rewards your full attention.