Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story

Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story
Written by	Claudia Salter
Directed by	Allan Moyle
Starring	Flex Alexander Eugene Clark Frederic Tucker Krista Rae
Country of origin	US
Language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Michael Frislev Chad Oakes
Cinematography	David Greene
Running time	87 min.
Distributor	Paramount Home Entertainment VH1 Television

Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 biographical telefilm produced for VH1. The biopic stars Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent controversial events. The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror".

The film originally aired on August 6, 2004 receiving, a TV rating of TV-PG for language. It is available on DVD, where it is distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment and is rated PG-13 for some brief language and thematic elements by the MPAA.

Plot

The often-controversial story of one of the world's most popular entertainers comes to life in this made-for-cable biographical drama. Michael Jackson (Alexander) grew up in the spotlight as a member of the popular R&B combo the Jackson 5, but his youthful success came with a price—robbed of a normal childhood, as he grew to be a man, Jackson found himself increasingly eager to remake his life into the childhood he never had.

In the 1980s, Jackson's solo career blew up, and his album Thriller became the biggest selling album of all time, moving over 100 million copies and making him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. As Jackson struggled to repeat its success, his public image and reputation became increasingly eccentric, and as allegations of drug abuse, excessive plastic surgery, and inappropriate behavior with children were thrown at him, Jackson found himself trapped between his desire to entertain his fans and proving to the world that he was a normal and law-abiding man.

Cast

• Flex Alexander as Michael Jackson
• Eugene Clark as Bobby
• Theresa Browning as Woman
• Marty Antonini as Detective #2
• Tom Carey as Director
• Brian Copping as Elder
• Lynne Cormack as Elizabeth Taylor
• Hugh Delaney as Judge
• Cedric De Souza as Martin Bashir
• Talon Dunbar as Little Boy
• Greg Farkas as Male Dancer
• Brennan Gademans as Young Michael Jackson
• Jason Griffith as Jermaine Jackson
• Patricia Idlette as Katherine Jackson
• Samantha Kaine as Diana Ross
• Liberty Kee as Nanny
• Margaret Avery as Martha Upshaw
• Greg Lawson as Detective #1
• Daniel Libman as Dr. Goodman
• Barbara Mamabolo as Janet Jackson
• Brian Martell as Thomas
• Peter Onorati as Ziggy
• Duncan Pattillo as Bodyguard
• Lou Poulis as Gardner
• Brendan Prost as Manny (based on Jordan Chandler)
• Brooklynn Proulx as Paris Jackson
• Krista Rae as Lisa Marie Presley
• Chad Riley as Dance crew member
• Troy Rudolph as Stage Manager
• Carrie Schiffler as Surgeon
• Connor Schmidt as Lisa's Son
• Peter Skagen as Attorney
• Amy Sloan as Holly
• William S. Taylor as Johnnie Cochran
• April Telek as Debbie Rowe
• Michael Tod as Sick Boy
• Jameson Trenholm as Junkie #2
• Frederic Tucker as Joe Jackson
• Aidan Wilks as David (based on Gavin Arvizo)
• Gerrick Winston as Tito Jackson
• Chris Scheuerman as Security Guard (uncredited)

Award nominations

• 2005 - Nominated NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special - Flex Alexander.

External links

• Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story at the Internet Movie Database
• Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story at AllRovi
• Audio-description script