# Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story

Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story is a 2004 biographical drama television film directed by Allan Moyle and written by Claudia Salter. It stars Flex Alexander as American pop star Michael Jackson, and follows his rise to fame and subsequent events. The film takes its title from one of Jackson's songs, "Man in the Mirror". Essentially a spiritual sequel to The Jacksons: An American Dream, which discussed the Jackson family as children, the film was primarily shot in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and aired on VH1 on August 6, 2004, a month prior to when Jackson's criminal trial was scheduled to begin.

## Plot

A depressing look at the life of Michael Jackson, following the success of his sixth album, Thriller, his broken relationship with his father, his sexual abuse allegations, his marriage and divorce to Lisa Marie Presley, the birth of his children to his eventual trial.

## 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 (based on Frank DiLeo)
* Duncan Pattillo as bodyguard
* Lou Poulis as gardener
* 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 Benjamin Keough
* 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)
* Braedon Mcnicol as extra (uncredited)

## Award nominations

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

## Reception

The film originally aired on August 6, 2004, receiving a TV rating of TV-PG for language. The telefilm went on to receive generally negative reviews from both fans and critics alike as the film presented Jackson in a very unflattering manner and did not represent most of the true story alongside criticizing the dialogue. Unlike The Jacksons: An American Dream, none of Jackson's songs are heard, only mentioned in the telefilm.
Telelvision critic Melaine Mcfarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer called the "biopoem" (as described by the director) "one of those tastelessly timed works meant to coax forth any sympathy we might have for Jackson's situation".

## Home media

It is available on DVD on February 8, 2005, where it is distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment and is rated PG-13 for some brief language and thematic elements by the MPAA.