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Square One: Michael Jackson

Square One
Promotional poster
Directed byDanny Wu
Written by
  • Danny Wu
  • Shania Kumar
Produced byDanny Wu
Starring
Release date
  • September 28, 2019 (2019-09-28)
Running time
83 minutes

Square One: Michael Jackson is a 2019 investigative documentary directed by Danny Wu. It focuses on the 1993 case in which Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy.[1] Through interviews with people closest to the case, the film makes a case for Jackson's innocence.[2] The interviews showcase statements from trial witnesses, Jackson's nephew, and legal assistant to attorney Barry Rothman in 1993.

Synopsis

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Square One is an independent investigative documentary that examines the original child sexual abuse allegations by Evan Chandler and his son, 13-year-old Jordan Chandler, against pop star Michael Jackson.[3][4] Evan Chandler initially asked for $20 million in exchange for not accusing Jackson publicly, but later was willing to accept $1 million.[5]: 121, 128, 138  After Jackson refused to pay this sum, on August 17, 1993, Chandler took his son to psychiatrist Mathis Abrams, and Jordan told Abrams that Jackson had molested him. Abrams reported the allegations to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, and the Los Angeles Police Department initiated an investigation shortly afterward. In September, Jordan Chandler filed a lawsuit through his parents.

The film explains how, after a failed attempt to postpone the civil trial until the criminal case was resolved, which would have been necessary for Jackson to protect his rights for a fair criminal trial,[6][7] on January 25, 1994, Jackson agreed to pay $15,331,250 to settle the Chandlers' civil lawsuit.[8] That agreement ended the civil case but not the criminal investigation.[9] It went on until September 21, 1994, when the district attorneys announced that they declined to file charges against Jackson because Jordan was unwilling to testify. They also revealed the boy only informed them of that decision on July 6, 1994, many months after the civil settlement. The district attorneys did not explain why they did not charge Jackson while Jordan was still willing to testify.[10][11]

The film features interviews with Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson, three women who were on the 2003 witness list in People v. Jackson, and short-lived legal secretary to Barry Rothman, Geraldine Hughes,[12] and journalist Charles Thomson. The film makes a case for Jackson's innocence, portraying him as a victim of tabloid journalism.[13]

Release

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Square One was first released at TCL Chinese Theater on September 28, 2019,[14] with people close to Jackson and others in attendance.[15] On October 5, 2019, the film premiered in London as well as launched on YouTube.[16] In early November 2019, Danny Wu embarked on a multi-city tour in China, premiering the film in Beijing, Zhengzhou, Shenzhen, Kunming, Wunan, Shanghai, and Wu's birthplace of Chengdu. The film had its European premiere in Amsterdam on January 18, 2020.[14] The European premiere was covered by multiple outlets including Algemeen Dagblad,[17] RTL Boulevard,[18] SBS6 Shownieuws,[19] De Telegraaf,[20] Trouw,[21] and Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau.[22]

Square One was made available in an enhanced version on Amazon Prime Video on May 7, 2020, in the US and the UK[23][24] and worldwide on June 12.[25][26][27]

Reception

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Josiah Teal from Film Threat said of the documentary, "I found this film very insightful, opening new perspectives on the entire legacy of Michael Jackson."[28] UK Film Review gave the documentary 4/4 stars, stating, "It seems that there have been several counter-arguments raised against the revelations found in Leaving Neverland, but Wu's film manages to stand tallest amongst them all."[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Square One, el documental que pretende "desmontar" las acusaciones de pederastia sobre Michael Jackson". ABC (in Spanish). October 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "Square One MJ Documentary: New Evidence in the Michael Jackson Case". World Wide Entertainment TV. October 5, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Wilson, Jeff (August 27, 1993). "Case Files: Boy Says Jackson Molested Him". Associated Press.
  4. ^ Steinhaus, Rochelle (June 16, 2004). "Jackson settlement from 1993 allegations topped $20 million". CNN.
  5. ^ Chandler, Raymond (June 30, 2005). All that Glitters: The Crime and the Cover-up. Kent Town, South Australia: Wakefield Press. ISBN 9781862546721 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Sandler, Adam (November 23, 1993). "Jackson told to cooperate in civil trial". Variety.
  7. ^ Hamilton, William (December 14, 1993). "Michael Jackson Back in U.S. to Face Charges". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
  8. ^ "Michael Jackson's $15 Million Payoff". The Smoking Gun. June 12, 2014.
  9. ^ Newton, Jim (January 26, 1994). "Jackson Settles Abuse Suit but Insists He Is Innocent : Courts: Singer will reportedly pay $15 million to $24 million to teen-ager. Criminal investigation will proceed". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ "PrimeTime Live: Michael Jackson, ABC News, and the California Courts". ATGBook.net. June 14, 1995. Archived from the original on December 25, 2005.
  11. ^ JACKSON THANKFUL PROBE IS OVER
  12. ^ Friedman, Roger (May 21, 2015). "Legal Secretary in Old Case Says Jacko Was Framed". Fox News.
  13. ^ Vrieze, Atze De (October 18, 2019). "Nieuwe documentaire duikt in de eerste misbruikaanklacht tegen Michael Jackson". 3VOOR12 (in Dutch). Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Square One European Premiere". De Balie (in English and Dutch). March 31, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Martín, Cynthia (October 15, 2019). "Desmontando el juicio de 1993 contra Michael Jackson". Fotogramas (in European Spanish). Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  16. ^ Antonucci, Gabriele (October 7, 2019). "Michael Jackson: 10 anni di "This Is It", film sul tour mai iniziato". Panorama (in Italian). Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  17. ^ "Neef Michael Jackson komt in Nederland op voor oom". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  18. ^ "Neefje Michael Jackson: 'Het was een nachtmerrie'". RTL Boulevard (in Dutch). January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "Late Editie: Neef Taj verdedigt oom Michael Jackson in Amsterdam". SBS6 Shownieuws (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  20. ^ "Neef Taj verdedigt oom Michael Jackson in Amsterdam". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  21. ^ Baneke, Isabel (January 18, 2020). "Nieuwe film moet onschuld van Michael Jackson bewijzen – maar doet dat niet". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  22. ^ "Square One". Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  23. ^ Danny Wu [@dannywuyue] (May 7, 2020). "Tweet" (Tweet). Retrieved June 30, 2020 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Danny, Wu (May 7, 2020). "Square One: Michael Jackson". Amazon. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  25. ^ Danny Wu [@dannywuyue] (June 11, 2020). "Tweet" (Tweet). Retrieved June 30, 2020 – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Arcones, Juan (June 15, 2020). "'Square One: Michael Jackson': Amazon Prime Video Estrena Un Nuevo Documental Del Artista". Fotograma (in European Spanish). Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  27. ^ Romero, JD (June 16, 2020). ""Square One", el documental contra los detractores de Michael Jackson". The Medizine (in European Spanish). Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  28. ^ Teal, Josiah (July 22, 2020). "Square One". Film Threat. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  29. ^ Buick, Chris (December 29, 2019). "Square One Documentary Film Review". UK Film Review. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
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