User reviews

The selfish part of me appreciates what Joe Jackson did, whereas the compassionate part of me despises what he did. What was it he did you ask? Created the Jackson 5 and by extension of that Michael Jackson.

"The Jacksons: An American Dream" is about Joe Jackson's dream. When he met Katherine in 1945 he expressed to her that he had a dream of being big in boxing and/or music and move to California. He wasn't able to achieve that by his own musical talents, but he was able to achieve it through the talents of his sons. Unfortunately, he drove them like a dog sledder in the final leg of the Iditarod. On the more forgiving end of the scale, he was too demanding and robbed his kids of a childhood. On the less forgiving end of the scale, he was an abusive monster. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle and of course it's all a matter of perspective.

This mini-series is a must see for any Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson fan. My earliest pop music memories are of Michael Jackson. He was the entire musical universe to me as a kid. There was no one that could even come near him. He was the sun and every other performer was just a planet orbiting around his brilliance. "The Jacksons" let us in on the creation process of the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson. Angela Bassett was terrific as Katherine Jackson and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs was equally awesome as Joe Jackson. After those two consistent characters, the other actors chosen were excellent likenesses. "The Jacksons" is a well done docudrama that was absolutely necessary.

This two-part miniseries (long enough to be a week-long miniseries if each episode was an hour), was at times overly dramatic, somewhat lacking in humor and even kind-of depressing. Still, it's one of the best music bios ever.

The absolute best thing about this piece is Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs. Hilton-Jacobs captures the menace of the notorious Joseph Jackson. He is a father you would NOT want to disobey. On the other hand, he brings a level of humanity and respectability, sometimes even likability to the role that makes it a three-dimensional character. In many music bios, it's hard to believe they're talking about real people (exhibit A: The Doors), but not here. Hilton-Jacobs expresses Jackson's deep, cutting flaws, but also the good things about him.

As for the bigger stars in the two-parter, Vanessa Williams is likable as Susan de Passe: a Motown employee who believes so much in the boys that she convinces Berry Gordy to hear them. Billy Dee Williams is likable as Gordy, but he comes off as a saintly carefree sort. Angela Basset also excelled as the boys' mother: willing to sacrifice her goals and dreams for the sake of the family.

All three actors who played Michael were also fantastic. It's so sad that Wylie Draper died so soon after this movie came out. He really captured Michael as well as anybody could. He reminds the viewer of what people saw in Michael in the early 80s. Alex Burral and Jason Weaver also performed great as Michael, especially during the music scenes. The actors who played Michael's brothers fared also. While it clearly centers around Michael, it goes to great lengths not to make the other boys second-bananas (the only one who isn't explored much is Janet, ironically, because her fame rivals that of Michael in real life).

Speaking of the music scenes, they are almost all very well done. The scenes where they appear to be lipsynching songs (such as when they record "I'll Be There" are done pretty well, but when the actors (presumably) get to handle it on their own, it really comes alive, whether it's the kids singing old r&b classics toward the beginning, or the final concert scene at the end with a lively version of "The Love You Save."

All in all, great music and great acting make this movie one of the best rock bios of all.

This movie is terrific. The Director lets the story unfold without resorting to histrionics. The different boys playing Michael are all wonderful and evoke the charm that made the real 10 year old into a star. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs does wonderful work portraying a man that many have vilified without adding his own judgment.

Special mention should be made to the choreography: Michael Peters does an excellent job of recreating the signature moves of the Jackson 5, and the scene with Jackie Wilson subtly suggests many of the steps that a real-life Michael Jackson uses.

I enjoy this movie and can't wait to see it again.

the movie was amazing and I've been a fan of it since I was 2. Extremely well written and the storyline was able to show all aspects of the family and Jackson career without making anyway out to be the bad guy. The story shows the Jackson boys from the very start of their career. It shows the in and outs of their careers as well as their business and father-son relationship with Joe. Trust me, it's more than you ever thought you knew about the family. From the excitement and what it was like to be in the public eye, to it's effects on the young men's personal lives. This is truly a beautifully written, well- respected depiction of the Jackson 5's American Dream.

Personally, I liked this movie. Even though I have been an avid Jackson fan since the beginning, I was able to evaluate this movie with a proper perspective and I'm giving it a 10!!!!!! Both Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and Angela Bassett were outstanding as Joseph and Katherine Jackson. The remaining cast were excellent and the musical numbers were magnificent!! The writing, art direction, costume design and all the other elements that makes a great movie were impeccable.

Within the last year, I've seen several movies about teen idols from the seventies and some of them were lousy and not historically accurate(especially with the music). Not this one!!! The Jacksons' movie was historically accurate in it's depiction of the world's greatest musical family.

There was a whole generation that grew up with the Jackson 5, and most of their life was an open book,the movie tries to capture the Jackson family inside saga but the flaw is trying to capture the extensive material worth for a Mini-series in a span of few hours.. Joseph Jackson portrayed by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs though a good actor, comes across like a maniac than a strict diciplinarian. Part of the reason is his Hair-do and the character not aging as much as the other characters. For a fine actress like Angela Basett the part of Catherine is a cheese cake. Wylie Draper is an amazing display of talent with the "Moon walk" which is to the Entetainement as the "Moon Landing" was to Space exploration. The movie tries hard to cram lot of things hence suffers from a clear focus but yet there were some poignant moments like interactions between Berry Gordy (Billy Dee Williams) and the young Michael Jackson and the best, when Catherine finds Joseph cheating when she taps his phone instead of fetching Pecan ice cream!!. And of course the best eye candy of all Vanessa Williams.

I am optimistic that "The Jacksons: An American Dream" will be re- released in Blu Ray format as a 25th anniversary edition in 2017 with hopefully several hours of special features and with the Jackson 5 performing on historical footage. I just watched this TV movie for the second time after a 25 year absence and I was amazed at how this TV biography reminded me of the difficulty that the entire Jackson family had in making it to the top of the music charts. There are some great performances by the Jackson parents Joe (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) and Katherine (Angela Bassett) who struggled their entire lives just so that they could keep that dim light flickering at even the slightest of chance of stardom and financial wealth beyond their wildest dreams. Joe Jackson always envisioned his families success and living in California.

I appreciated that this biography provided sufficient footage to the early romantic relationship between Joe and Katherine Jackson and Joe's strong belief in not relying on contraceptives which resulted in the Jacksons family continually expanding during the 1950's and 1960's to a brood of nine (9) children. One child Brandon died shortly after birth which made ten (10) Jackson children in total. The Jackson biography depicts a disciplinarian father in Joe who regularly used a tree branch to beat his children with but he was also a very hard worker who somehow kept his nine (9) children under one roof with his wife when many fathers would have found it easier to simply walk away from their responsibilities. I was quite impressed with Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs performance whose earlier claim to fame was playing high school student Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington in the 1975 TV sitcom Welcome Back Kotter. Angela Bassett is a very versatile actress and her portrayal as Katherine Jackson, the mother of this large and talented family who had to cook, clean and find employment just to sustain the household bills in Gary Indiana as their family continued to grow is a great example for all mothers to hang in there and remember why you chose to have a family and young children in the first place.

The Jackson children all had talent to which their parents encouraged that talent to blossom, but the film also portrays that the children's synchronized dance steps which they used to win amateur talent shows in their early years required them to practise, practise, and more practise, leaving absolutely no time to build any neighborhood friendships or develop any other skills or hobbies other than singing and dancing as the Jackson brothers.

I must say that I was disappointed that sufficient credit was not given to Berry Gordy (Billy Dee Williams) who was the company founder and CEO of the very successful Motown records. I believe as talented as the Jackson 5 are/were, without the bench strength, music savvy, and industry connections of Berry Gordy and Motown records the Jackson 5 would have quickly fallen into obscurity and not reached the pinnacle of successes that the entire family had, including that latter stardom of Janet Jackson a decade after the Jackson 5 fell from the top of the charts.

This biography did focus on the early years of the Jackson 5 development and their early struggles financially, emotionally, and musically. In the latter half it reflects Michael Jackson's kick off of his solo career and I was okay that minimal time was spent on just how huge Michael Jackson's solo career became without the Jackson 5 as he purchased his Neverland property with all the exotic animals he maintained on his property. The Jacksons: An American Dream is a must see biography for any music and/or movie fan, especially for fans of the Jackson 5 catalogue of top hits on the Motown record label.

I truly hope the producers consider a re-release in the current Blu Ray format and enrich our movie experience with hours of extra historical footage of the many magical moments on stage of the Jackson 5, especially of the Jackson 5's appearance on the Motown 25th anniversary special and Michael Jackson's solo appearance on the same TV special when he introduced his moonwalk dance whilst singing Billy Jean.

A special congratulations to Janet Jackson and her husband Wissam Al Mana on Janet's birth to her first child a son named Eissa Al Mana. Janet, your mother, father, brothers and sisters should/would be very proud that the Jackson family name continues to grow and the Jackson legacy will continue for a new generation.

Angela Bassett and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs played the Jackson Five's parents excellently. It was too bad that almost everyone else in this mini-series was simply dreadful. Billy Dee Williams as Barry Gordy and Vanessa Williams as Ms. DePasse were fine. As for the remainder of the cast, dreadful. The worse offenders were the actors who played the adult Michael and Jermaine. The adult Michael made me literally cringe.

The story was well written and quite interesting. All scenes involving the Jacksons as children were heartfelt. But, I just could not get over the awful acting. This could have been a good one like the Temptation's mini-series.

In the wake of the death of Michael Jackson, I came to love this movie even more. The acting was fantastic, especially Wylie Draper's, who played the King of Pop from 1976 to 1983 (I was shocked to learn this brilliant actor passed away a year after the movie was released). He captured Michael's sensitivity and electrifying stage presence with perfection. His dance moves during Billie Jean were pretty close to Michael's own, not to mention the other parts where he also delivered a shinning performance. I only wish they had shown more of Michael during that era so that we could have seen more of Wylie. Despite the chronological errors, this movie deserves a thumbs up! I highly recommend it to all Jackson 5/Michael Jackson fans out there. Great acting, great music, great set design. And the chemistry amongst the actors was amazing. Too bad a lot of movies aren't made like that.

This movie is such a feel good movie, I've seen it so many times and i never get tired! Also a an amazing cast, Angela Bassett can do no wrong RIP Michael, you are forever missed and loved

Considering how long this movie is one would think that it would have covered a lot more of the Jackson's actual history. Countless upon countless of known and well-documented Jackson family facts are either completely ignored or inaccurately portrayed. This film (produced and green lighted by Jackson family members -- including Michael) is simply a vehicle to paint the Jackson family in the best light possible. And are we really suppose to feel sorry for their personal hardships considering the vast amount of wealth, privilege, and fame that their career's handed them? The good news is that the film is pretty well acted. Most notably by Angela Bassett and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as mom and "Joseph". The actors who play the Jackson siblings do a decent job in their respective rolls with the exception of Wylie Draper as the older Michael. He's a decent actor and a great dancer, but not for one second did I believe him as the King of Pop. Of course it would be difficult for any actor to convincingly portray an individual as unique and multilayered as M.J.

If you're a Michael Jackson fan, or a fan of the Jackson's in general, you'll enjoy this film. Just don't come away from it thinking it's an accurate historical piece on Michael, or the Jackson family.

I like all biographies, and I really love the Jacksons, I thought Wylie Draper (the guy that played the older Michael Jackson) looked a little like the real one, I'm sorry that we lost him, he was a good actor. Jason Weaver's acting gave Wylie something to work with, and he succeeded in Alex Burrell's (Michael Jackson from age 6-9) version of Michael. I didn't know at first that Jermaine's son was playing him, he looks exactly like his dad, but I think the guy who came after Jermaine Jr. really ruined it as far as portraying Jermaine is concerned, but his "overacting" worked in some scenes like with Hazel Gordy at the airport and talking with her in the hotel room and also talking with his dad.

I like the music, that's my favorite part, I'm gonna buy this movie, it's worth it.

I and my whole family love the Jackson's movie! The songs, the dancing, the acting, and their story was so fascinating and vivid. Joseph's character was so driven and instrumental to the movie and the success of the Jackson family. It is so clear to see how the Jackson's home life and the early years really affected them as adults. It is more Michael-centered than the other siblings, but what do you expect when he is practically the most famously known Jackson. There are so many cameos in this movie and other actors that you'll be sure to recognize. The time rolls by when watching this film and the drama, energy, and excitement just builds and builds to the powerful ending.

The movie is that great that I enjoyed the songs, music and the acting. I'm not a Michael Jackson fan but the story about him and his brothers lives really involved me in the movie. What their father did for them was something amazing but he was just too strict and then he just lost control of the something that was not his for he did not get to fulfil his dream but using his sons to fulfil it for him. But the Jackson 5 were great back then and still are, now and then I do listen to their music but today Michael Jackson has some of the best music, I do like some of them but others are just not Michael Jackson, it would be good if they can do another tour with the Jackson 5. I could just feel the music now. As I have added up the top I would like to purchase the video, some body stole the one I did have and now it is very hard to purchase one now.

Damn! That was a great movie. My friend told me that that was Micheal Jackson, but if it really was, he would look so screwed. But DAMN! That Wylie Draper was some fine guy. I wish there were more pictures of him though. On YouTube there's the movie so there's my eye candy.Well seriously the gut was hot! I wonder if they voted him as hottie of the year. If he were still living, he would be...38! The guy who played the one with the girl in the hotel and the girl is buckling down his shirt. I wish I were her. And uh guy who was playing Terrence Howard, I love yo eyes! They just stare at me every time I look at cha! Well. That's it that's 10 lines. People sign this, for Wylie. He was left with little fanfare. He's so pitiful! AWWWW!

First, this mini-series was produced by Suzanne De Passe who played by Vanessa Williams in the mini-series. I didn't realize so much about the Jacksons as a family before. Angela Bassett gives a moving performance as the family's matriarch that Katherine is both strong and loving. Her controversial husband, Joe Jackson, becomes more sympathetic to the viewer. Maybe his portrayer Laurence Hilton Jacobs has done a brilliant job in showing his complex relationship with his children. Holly Robinson is casted as Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams plays the legendary Berry Gordy (founder of Motown and not inducted into the Kennedy Center Honors is bewildering). Once the Jacksons win the amateur night at the Apollo Theatre then they get to go to Detroit, home of Motown Records, and first sing for Suzanne who must persuade Berry to listen to them. He was hesitant at first but he liked what he saw. From there on, the Jacksons were going to be big but there were problems in the family as always. Since the loss of Michael Jackson, this mini-series is a tribute for both him and the family.

I really think real life stories like this one are excellent, this really makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, i really think they should do another one though it would be great again. Michael jackson is the best entertainer in the world so he should have a film based on him and his life.