MANILA, Philippines—A little morbid yet more than compelling, “Michael Jackson’s ‘This is It’” concert film gives us a glimpse into the Jackson persona we did not often see—that of the driven, consummate performer. The docu is pieced together from more than a hundred hours’ worth of footage taken during the rehearsals for what would have been Jackson’s comeback concert, which was scheduled to kick off in July at London’s O2 Arena.

But, just a few days before the premier show, the performer was dead. “This is the final curtain call,” he once said to a mob of screaming fans when he announced his concert plans. Alas, those words turned out to be chillingly prophetic.

Perfectionist

While it’s certainly part of the profit-making machinery that seeks to capitalize on the circus that surrounded Michael’s premature death, the documentary can’t be dismissed as yet another vehicle for exploitation. Its central subject—Jackson himself—is simply too fascinating. Though he remains as enigmatic as he’s always been, the film reveals his perfectionist nature and his drive to create the best possible show.

For more than a decade, the legendary performer’s notoriety has overshadowed his talent. “This is It” reminds us that Jackson was, first and foremost, a star.

Directed by Kenny Ortega, the docu splices together rehearsal footage with added clips of the various processes involved in creating a mega-concert series. It shows just how untimely the singer’s death was: Michael was on the brink of making himself relevant again. And, as the rehearsal footage in the documentary shows, it would have been a pretty successful bid.

Instances

“This is It” is probably the first film of its kind. It’s certainly entertaining, even when Jackson isn’t giving his all (“Please understand, I’m conserving my voice,” he tells another singer)—and even more so in the instances when he gets carried away and does give his all.

After performing a sizzling “Billy Jean” dance sequence, oblivious to the applause of the crew and the dancers, he mumbles, still obviously unsatisfied: “At least, we get a feel for it.”