Square One: Michael Jackson

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] It uncovers new evidence and information through interviews with people closest to the case.[2] The interviews showcase statements from trial witnesses, Jackson's nephew, and legal assistant to the prosecutor in 1993.

Square One
SquareOneMJ promo poster
Directed byDanny Wu
Written by
  • Danny Wu
  • Shania Kumar
Starring
  • Danny Wu
  • Charles Thomson
  • Taj Jackson
  • Geraldine Hughes
  • Jenny Winings
  • Caroline Fristedt
  • Josephine Zohny


Release date
  • September 28, 2019 (2019-09-28)
Running time
83 minutes

Synopsis

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 Evan took Jordan to Dr. Abrams where the boy presented his allegations. Dr. Abrams reported it 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 guardians, Evan and June Chandler.[6]

The film explains how after a failed attempt to postpone the civil trial until the criminal case is resolved which would have been necessary for Jackson to protect his rights for a fair criminal trial, [7][8] Jackson agreed to pay $15,331,250 to settle the Chandlers' civil lawsuit on Jan 25 1994. [9] That agreement ended the civil case but not the criminal investigation [10]. It went on until Sept 21, 1994 when the district attorneys announced that they decline 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. [11]

The film features interviews with Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson, three women that 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

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, Kumming, Wunan, Shanghai, and Wu's birthplace of Chengdu.[17] The film had its European premiere in Amsterdam on January 18, 2020.[14] The European premiere was covered by multiple outlets including AD,[18] RTL Boulevard,[19] SBS6 Shownieuws,[20] The Telegraph,[21] Trouw,[22] and ANP.[23]

On May 7, 2020, Square One was made available in an enhanced version on Amazon Prime Video in the US and the UK.[24][25] On June 12, 2020, the enhanced version of Square One was then released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video[26][27][28]

Reception

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."[29] 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."[30]

See also

References
  1. Cinema, Play (October 16, 2019). "Square One, el documental que pretende "desmontar" las acusaciones de pederastia sobre Michael Jackson". ABC (in Italian).
  2. "SquareOneMJ documentary New Evidence in the Michael Jackson Case". WorldWideEntertainmentTV.com. October 5, 2019.
  3. "Case Files: Boy Says Jackson Molested Him". AP NEWS.
  4. "CNN.com - Jackson settlement from 1993 allegations topped $20 million - Jun 16, 2004". www.cnn.com.
  5. Chandler, Raymond (June 30, 2005). "All that Glitters: The Crime and the Cover-up". Wakefield Press – via Google Books.
  6. Superior court of the state of California case no. SC026226
  7. https://variety.com/1993/biz/news/jackson-told-to-cooperate-in-civil-trial-116092/
  8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1993/12/14/michael-jackson-back-in-us-to-face-charges/3ae8a841-e66d-4490-bc99-5f6849211b6d/
  9. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/michael-jacksons-15-million-payoff?page=5
  10. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-01-26-mn-15478-story.html
  11. https://web.archive.org/web/20051225151006/http://atgbook.net/abcfinal.html
  12. Friedman, Roger (March 25, 2015). "Legal Secretary in Old Case Says Jacko Was Framed". Fox News.
  13. Vrieze, Azte De (October 18, 2019). "Nieuwe documentaire duikt in de eerste misbruikaanklacht tegen Michael Jackson". VPRO (in Dutch). Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  14. "Square One European Premiere". De Balie (in Dutch). Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  15. Martín, Cynthia (October 15, 2019). "Desmontando el juicio de 1993 contra Michael Jackson". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  16. Antonucci, Gabriele (October 7, 2019). "Michael Jackson: 10 anni di "This Is It", film sul tour mai iniziato L'11 dicembre uscirà un cofanetto celebrativo del decennale in soli 1.000 esemplari. Il docufilm "Square One" fa chiarezza sulla vicenda Chandler". Panorama (in Italian). Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  17. Mengying, Bi (November 21, 2019). "Leaving Neverland rebuttal documentary welcomed". Global Times.
  18. "Neef Michael Jackson komt in Nederland op voor oom". AD (in Dutch). January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  19. "Neefje Michael Jackson: 'Het was een nachtmerrie'". www.rtl.nl (in Dutch). January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  20. "Shownieuws - Late Editie: Neef Taj verdedigt oom Michael Jackson in Amsterdam". SBS6 Shownieuws (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  21. "Neef Taj verdedigt oom Michael Jackson in Amsterdam". Telegraaf (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  22. Baneke, Isabel (January 18, 2020). "Nieuwe film moet onschuld van Michael Jackson bewijzen - maar doet dat niet". Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  23. "Square One". anpfoto.nl (in Dutch). January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  24. "Tweet". twitter.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  25. Danny, Wu (May 7, 2020). "Square One: Michael Jackson". Amazon. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  26. "Tweet". twitter.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  27. Arcones, Juan (June 15, 2020). "'Square One: Michael Jackson': Amazon Prime Video Estrena Un Nuevo Documental Del Artista". Fotograma (in Spanish). Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  28. Romero, JD (June 16, 2020). "«Square One», el documental contra los detractores de Michael Jackson". The Medizine (in Spanish). Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  29. 29."
  30. 22.
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