'You’ll never listen to Michael Jackson the same way again': Critics praise explosive documentary Leaving Neverland as a 'devastatingly convincing' portrayal of the King of Pop as a serial predator
By Megan Sheets
Daily Mail
January 27, 2019
Leaving Neverland, the explosive documentary detailing allegations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson, has been described by stunned critics as a 'devastatingly powerful' and convincing portrayal of a serial predator.
The four-hour film centered around testimony from two accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, left audiences sick to their stomach's after its Friday debut at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
A number of critics took to Twitter during and after the premiere to express their genuine shock at the disturbing revelations laid out in the film, which will be released by HBO this spring.
Summing up the general sentiment the following morning, Indiewire's David Ehrlich wrote: 'You’ll never listen to Michael Jackson the same way again. In fact, you may never listen to Michael Jackson again at all.'
The film debuted despite strong pushback from Jackson's estate, which has firmly denied all allegations against the late singer.
Robson, 36, and Safechuck, 40, have long claimed that to have been raped and molested by Jackson at his Neverland Ranch after meeting the singer when they were seven and ten, respectively.
Leaving Neverland galvanizes their stories with through extensive research and concrete evidence, according to critics.
In his review of the film, veteran critic Ehrlich writes: 'It may not be much of a secret that Michael Jackson acted inappropriately with a number of young boys, but there’s no way to prepare yourself for the sickening forensic details presented in Dan Reed’s four-hour exposé.
'It’s one thing to be vaguely aware of the various allegations that were made against the King of Pop; the asterisks that will always be next to the late mega-star’s name. It’s quite another to hear the horrifyingly lucid testimony that stretches across the entire duration of "Leaving Neverland" as two of Jackson’s most repeat victims bravely lay bare how a universal icon seduced them away from their realities, splintered their families beyond all recognition, and leveraged their love for him into a disturbing litany of sexual acts.'
Ehrlich boldly states that Leaving Neverland has erased all doubts surrounding Robson and Safechuck's allegations.
'Not only do the documentary’s two main subjects perfectly corroborate their separate accounts in all of the most tragic of ways, but they do so with a degree of vulnerability that denies any room for skepticism,' he writes before laying out the graphic details revealed in the film.
Variety's Owen Glieberman expresses similar awe at the power of the men's testimony, writing: 'The sexual activities are described with unnerving candor, and one’s inevitable response is to recoil in horror at Michael Jackson’s predatory sickness.
'He was a serial pedophile who came on as a protector of children.
'At the center of the movie, though, is a fact that will remain (for some) controversial: that both Robson and Safechuck testified, during Jackson’s first criminal trial for child sexual abuse, that he was innocent — that he’d never done a thing to them that was inappropriate.
'The movie explains, quite believably, how this happened.'
Daniel Fienberg with The Hollywood Reporter isn't so convinced of that.
He began his review with an admission that Leaving Neverland is 'a perilously complicated project to review', writing that the two-part documentary 'shows why sometimes it takes four hours, many years and some missteps to finally tell your truth'.
Fienberg praises director Dan Reed for giving Robson and Safechuck a forum to share their stories without hiding from the fact that they had both given sworn statements denying the abuse when Jackson was alive.
'Reed knows that Leaving Neverland isn't going to "win." Jackson is dead. His supporters remain fanatical. What Reed wants to do is give Robson and Safechuck a safe place to share their experience as they want to and if that required four hours of screen time, so be it,' Fienberg writes.
He concluded: 'It's all complicated and heartbreaking .... It's doubtful you'll feel exactly the same after watching four hours of Leaving Neverland whether you came in having already shredded your Thriller albums or prepared to picket a Sundance premiere to protect Jackson's memory.'
Screen Daily critic Tim Grierson similarly praised Reed's direction, specifically noting how the filmmaker provided context to Robson and Safechuck's alarming claims.
He writes: 'It would be easy for audiences to be judgmental as Safechuck and Robson explain what a big deal it was as aspiring young artists to be taken under Jackson’s wing — to be made to feel special and even loved.
'But among Leaving Neverland’s remarkable achievements is Reed’s empathetic skill at providing the proper context (usually through archival footage) so that we see the world from the perspective of those boys who were so trusting that they didn’t realise (sic) what was allegedly happening to them.'
Grierson goes on to call the film 'a fascinating study of human psychology' and the world's obsession with celebrity.
'Both of these men, as well as their mothers, plausibly reconstruct their thought process, which left them convinced that they could put their faith in Michael Jackson because he was a beloved pop star,' he writes.
'But as their tales grow darker, and the accusations more upsetting, what remains riveting is that, on some level, none of these individuals could fully believe that Jackson was capable of such terrible deeds — no matter the legal trouble concerning molestation charges that swirled around him in later years.'
Grierson also gives nods to composer Chad Hobson for the 'mournful but not hyperbolic musical backing to these shocking accusations' and editor Jules Cornell, who he says 'dexterously weaves between different talking heads so that Leaving Neverland boasts a calm, focused precision that gives weight to the men’s claims'.
He concluded: 'It’s hard to think of a film about abuse, denial, acceptance and recovery more affecting than this one.'
Gregory Ellwood of The Playlist makes several similar points about how compelling the film is, but notes in his review: 'Considering Jackson’s legal cases, the sexual abuse itself isn’t surprising even if the details are.
'The power of "Leaving Neverland," however, may be defined in its own legacy. It will be hard pressed to convince diehard fans to even consider this truth. That being said, these are the sort of heartbreaking accounts that not only could prompt other Jackson victims to come forward but, other victims of sexual abuse.'
Robson and Safechuck both received a standing ovation from the audience after the film before tearfully answering questions about the documentary.
Both men go into graphic and specific detail about what allegedly happened in Jackson's bedroom when they were just children, with both men claiming they were abused from approximately the age of seven until they were 14.
Robson is known to many as the man who reportedly came between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, and inspired Timberlake to write the break-up anthem Cry Me A River.
The Australian-born dancer, 36, previously filed a lawsuit against Jackson's estate in 2016 asking for $1.62 billion in damages.
In his complaint, Robson claimed that he was raped by the King of Pop for seven years, starting when he was seven and ending when he was 14.
That suit was eventually tossed, with the judge ruling that the singer's estate could not be held responsible for the allegations being made by Robson.
The court made no comments in the validity of the lawsuit, but Jackson's family was very vocal about the fact that Robson had testified on the singer's behalf at his 2005 trial.
Robson said in his court filing that the alleged abuse he suffered at the hands of Jackson included: 'kissing and french kissing; Michael Jackson rubbing [Robson's] penis and having [Robson] rub his; Michael Jackson masturbating while watching [Robson] from behind on all fours, naked, with his knees and palms extended like a dog on all fours; Michael Jackson spreading [Robon's] buttocks and sticking his tongue into and licking [Robson's] anus while he masturbated using lotion; the mutual fondling of genitals with their hands and mouth; mutual fellatio' and more.
He also alleged in his suit that Jackson lost interest in him when he turned 14, but prior to that had told the young boy: 'We can never tell anyone what we are doing. People are ignorant and they would never understand that we love each other and this is how we show it. If anyone were to ever find out our lives and career would be over.'
Fans of Jackson and his family were shocked when they learned about the filing given that Robson had been a crucial witness in Jackson's acquittal on similar charges back in 2005.
At that trial he testified under oath that Jackson had never once touched him inappropriately or abused him during their time together.
Robson responded to the criticism by stating: 'I did not believe that I was forced. I believed that I was a consenting participant in the sexual acts.'
According to critics, Robson's account, and the eerily similar one from Safechuck, is easily believable through the lens of Leaving Neverland.
Details about the film first emerged on Twitter as critics took to the social media platform during and after the screening.
Patrick Ryan of USA Today wrote: 'Among the many, many disturbing revelations of #LeavingNeverland: MJ gave one of his young male victims jewelry in exchange for sexual acts, and even staged a mock wedding complete with vows and diamond ring.
'Many common parallels in victims' stories: MJ grooming them to hate their parents and women in general, saying God brought them together, eventually 'casting them out' for younger boys. 'There was a lot of jealousy and hurt. You were no longer special.''
Jeff Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere tweeted: 'Leaving Neverland is a horror film - an intimate, obviously believable, sometimes sexually explicit story of two boys who became Michael Jackson's special 'friends' - i.e., lovers - while their oblivious parents went along. Jackson was a fiend - a smooth predator, a monster.'
'Feel sick to my stomach after watching Part 1 of #LeavingNeverland doc. Michael Jackson witnesses/sex abuse victims coming off very credible. It's so sexually explicit that counselors are in the lobby,' wrote Mara Reinstein of US Weekly.
'Shaking. Wow. We were all wrong when we cheered for Michael Jackson. He was a pedophile.'
Eugene Hernandez, the Deputy Director at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, also provided some details, writing: 'Halfway thru the doc, which in its 1st half graphically details Michael Jackson sexual abuse of Robson & Safechuck, I wondered why it needed 2 more hours... but in its 2nd half it reveals the journey of the victims to be able to talk about it.'
He weighed in after the film as well, writing: 'This is deeply moving exploration of abuse from perspective of its victims/families. Overall well-shaped & constructed. Raises so many difficult questions abt parental roles, celebrity, secrets, fame, enabling behavior & abuse. Topics that could fill a 4 hour follow-up.'
As critics posted their thoughts, an army of Michael Jackson fans latched on to attack and refute the claims made in the film, despite the fact it was played for the first time in Utah on Friday.
It did not impact those who saw the film however, who were almost unanimous in their belief that this film presented damning evidence to support the allegations made by Robson and Safechuck.
The men took time to address their critics and naysayers after the screening, while making it clear they were not paid in any way for their participation in the film.
'I don't feel like there's anything I need to say to them except that I understand that it's really hard for them to believe,' said Robson.
'We can only accept and understand something when we're ready, maybe we'll never be ready, maybe we will. That's their journey.'
Even at intermission many were left shocked by what they had seen halfway through the film.
'On a 10-min break halfway through Sundance's 4-hour Michael Jackson child sex abuse documentary. Whatever you thought you knew or were aware of, the content of this is more disturbing than you could imagine. And again, we're only halfway through, ' wrote Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast.
Amy Kaufman of the Los Angeles Times said that before the movie screened, a warning was issued to guests by the festival director.
'John Cooper warns the #LeavingNeverland audience that the docuseries contains explicit descriptions of sexual abuse involving minors and there are Healthcare professionals from the state of Utah in the lobby should filmgoers need to talk' wrote Kaufman.
Matt Donnelly of Variety noted this too, tweeting: '#Sundance has provided health care professionals in the theater for audience members potentially upset by #LeavingNeverland's explicit descriptions of sexual abuse against underage boys. They are in the wings ready with counsel.'
Kaufman also revealed that the film resonated with one man in particular, writing: 'Incredibly emotional reaction from the audience after #LeavingNeverland. One audience member says he was molested as a child and that Robson and Safechuck 'are going to do a lot more f--king good in the world than Michael f--king Jackson.''
Multiple critics were far more brief in their assessment of he film, but all used the same phrase.
'Absolutely devastating,' noted Marlow Stern of The Daily Beast and Hollywood Reporter writer Tatiana Siegel.
The word disgust also came up in a number of tweets responding to the film.
'You should have seen the faces of the audience members during the ten-minute intermission of 'Leaving Neverland.' at the Egyptian. They had that look of hollowed-out nausea, submerged disgust…trying to hide their revulsion. The Jackson guilt denialists are finished. Jig's up,' wrote Wells.
'Leaving Neverland is also, of course, a very sad story. Damage & dysfunction is passed on. You're only as healthy or sick as the amount of ugly secrets you're carrying around. Oh, and the two complicit mothers of the victims are dealt tough cards by their trying-to-heal sons.'
Reacting to the documentary on Friday night, the late singer's estate branded it 'the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death.'
In a statement, it also accused Robson and Safechuck, of being 'two perjurers', in reference to sworn statements they gave while Jackson was alive stating he had not molested them.
Jackson's nephew Taj, whose father is Tito, voiced his disgust on Twitter.
'To all the sponsors of @Sundance. I suggest you do your own homework on Wade Robson and James Safechuck,' read one of the tweets.
'By supporting their lies, you are now part of this and we will remember that when everything implodes. You can't plead ignorance anymore.'
He also wrote: 'I'm sure there are some incredible films that will be premiering and shown at the festival. Films that people put their hard earned money and life into. But @Sundance is jeopardizing these films to accommodate, promote, and showcase a film that stars two proven scam artists.'
Jackson's official account also shared a tweet aimed at shaming HBO which read: 'In 1992, Michael gave HBO their highest rated special ever. Now, to repay him they give a voice to admitted liars. #StopLeavingNeverlandNOW.'
That was a reference to Jackson's first ever televised concert, which aired on the network in October of 1992 after being filmed in Bucharest.
The special smashed the pay cable provider's previews record, scoring a 21.4 rating and 34 share in the approximately 17.5 million homes with subscriptions.
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