A Night with Michael: My Take on the New Biopic Last night I went to see the new  Michael Jackson  film, and it got me thinking about how long Michael Jackson has been a presence in my life. I was born in 1975, so I didn’t grow up with the early Jackson 5 years in real time, but I came up right as he exploded as a solo artist in the 1980s. That  Thriller  era wasn’t just popular—it was global, unavoidable, and unforgettable. Over the years, I’ve checked in on just about everything tied to him:  This Is It ,  Moonwalker , even the video game. When I finally had money, I bought some of the albums. He’s never been the center of my world, but he’s always been there—a constant. So when I heard about this film, directed by Antoine Fuqua and featuring a family member in the lead role, I was immediately interested. Going in, I already knew the critics weren’t impressed. The RottenTomatoes score was low, while audience reactions were overwhelmingly positive. ...