The one where we review Michael and The Wizard of the Kremlin

We’re starting with the cinematic event of the season: Antoine Fuqua’s massive biopic, Michael. Starring Jaafar Jackson in a breakout performance as his uncle, Michael Jackson, this film covers everything from the Jackson 5 era to the legendary Bad tour.Fun Flix Fact: Talk about keeping it in the family! Jaafar Jackson didn’t just win the role because of his last name; director Antoine Fuqua said he was "blown away" by the uncanny resemblance in his voice and dance moves during a worldwide search.Era Magic: To capture the passage of time, the production used specific filming techniques and lens types for each decade, subtly shifting from the warm, grainier look of the 1970s to the sharp, high-contrast "pop" of the late 80s.Next, we’re shifting gears to the high-stakes world of political manipulation in The Wizard of the Kremlin. Directed by Olivier Assayas, it stars Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov, the "spin doctor" who helped shape the rise of Vladimir Putin.Fun Flix Fact: Jude Law takes on the daunting task of playing Vladimir Putin. Interestingly, the film chooses to have the cast speak in their natural accents (mostly British and American) rather than putting on Russian accents—a choice intended to emphasize the universal nature of power and media manipulation.Book to Screen: The film is based on the award-winning 2022 novel by Giuliano da Empoli, which was so popular in France that it became a major political talking point during the real-world elections!To tie into our review of Michael, we’re looking back 10 years at the 2016 biopic Nina, starring Zoe Saldaña as the legendary Nina Simone. We discuss the parallels—and the massive differences—in how these two films handle the legacy of musical giants.Fun Flix Fact: This film remains one of the most controversial biopics in recent history. Mary J. Blige was originally cast as Nina Simone back in 2010 but had to drop out due to scheduling and funding delays, leading to Saldaña taking the lead.The Legacy: Unlike the Michael biopic, which was made with the Estate's cooperation, Nina Simone’s family famously refused to endorse this film. Zoe Saldaña herself has since expressed deep regret about the role, sparking a decade-long conversation about casting and authenticity in Hollywood.And if that’s not enough entertainment for you, we’ve even thrown in new trailers to watch and what you can catch on streaming. Hit that subscribe button right now so you never miss an episode of The Flixters! We’re here every week to bring you the best reviews, the wildest facts, and the greatest cinema talk in the business. 00:00 Intro 3:10 Shoutouts4:09 Movie News09:49 New on Streaming11:09 New Trailers20:33 Anniversary Corner23:27 Michael Review40:03 The Wizard of the Kremlin Review47:07 OutroThis episode is proudly sponsored by Zencastr. Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr