GEORGE MICHAEL: THE FAITH TOUR
THREE STARS George Michael takes Faith to the people of Paris on his first worldwide solo tour.
CONCERT FRANCE English #GEORGEMICHAEL Starring George Michael
There are two rather different films at work in GEORGE MICHAEL: THE FAITH TOUR, and it takes a moment to work out quite what we're watching. First comes a prologue by Mary McCartney, built around an unheard interview with Michael discussing the making of his seminal Faith album. Visually, it's something of a collision between Herb Ritts and Ken Burns, an oddly unsettling exercise in archival imagery and documentary reflection. What's this about, you ask? Well, patience.
Then comes the main event, co-directed by David Austin and Andrew Morahan: a concert filmed in Paris over two nights in 1988, using more than a dozen cameras to capture Michael at the height of his extraordinary popularity. And that's pretty much it. No preparation, no rehearsals, no backstage chatter, no interviews with band members or retrospective commentary. None of the usual documentary trimmings. Just the gig.
The footage, apparently, was lost until recently, although quite how something of this magnitude could have slipped from collective memory, particularly that of Michael's estate, which presumably excavated every available scrap of his creative output following his death, is something of a mystery.
The result is a curious affair. As a documentary, it's decidedly thin, offering little insight into the man or the making of the music. As a concert document, however, it's a terrific reminder of just what a performer George Michael was. Energy pours from the screen as he runs, quite literally, around the stage, working the crowd with an ease and confidence that few could match. The camera is quite plainly in love with its star, a star equally besotted with his audience, who return the affection with considerable enthusiasm.
It's an unabashed singalong love fest, with Michael singing all the hits (what a voice!) and the audience lapping up every word. There's little here to challenge or surprise, and the framing material feels like an unnecessary detour. But seeing an icon at the very top of his game is more than enough. Just try and control that toe tapping.
THE FAITH TOUR may be a somewhat unconventional time capsule (no mobile phones!), but it's an entirely welcome one.
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