Spike Lee is no stranger to the world of Michael Jackson. He first tackled the pop star’s legacy four years ago with “Bad 25,” and now he’s back, chronicling the impact of Jackson’s hugely influential “Off The Wall“ with “Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown To Off The Wall.” And the first clip for the documentary has arrived.
The album that launched Jackson into mega-stardom, it can’t be overstated how important the album was not just to his career, but the music landscape as a whole. And this trailer promises both a look back with some nice archival footage, and a look forward as artists like Questlove, The Weeknd, and David Byrne share their impressions of first hearing “Off The Wall.” Here’s the synopsis:
One morning, a television set broke down in a living room in Gary, Indiana, leaving a large family of children with nothing to do — so they started singing. Soon the family was singing at talent shows and winning trophies. Their first four recorded songs would top the charts, and launch the career of one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever known.
Director Spike Lee assembles a wealth of archival footage, interviews with contemporary talents and family members, and Michael’s own words and image to create this insightful chronicle of the star’s early rise to fame. An in-depth look at a chapter of his career that is rarely examined, Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall allows audiences to travel with Michael as he gets his start at Motown, strikes a new path with CBS records, and forges a relationship with legendary producer Quincy Jones. An illuminated portrait emerges of how an earnest, passionate, hard-working boy would become the “King of Pop.”
“Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown To Off The Wall” premieres this month at Sundance and will air on Showtime on February 5th. Watch below.
