In watching "Leaving Neverland" I wonder what the outtakes are like. Did they try to make the recounting of abuse seem as compelling as possible? I sensed a lot of overacting.
If these two accusers could just talk in a normal manner I would probably be a lot more sympathetic.
I think their declarations in the film had signs of being coached. There are little gestures they repeat a lot ( and I'm talking of more than one person doing the same gesture).
Then there's this strange variation in the timber of their voice during specific sentences, especially those that were practically plot points. It seemed very weird to me.
I watched this with a very good pair of headphones, by the way.
I suspect they at least took lessons of some sort to prepare in advance for this. Even the way they speak seems very consistent among all the people involved in it, all those uncommonly used words and similar quirks during their discourse. Even Sean, Robson's older brother who has an accent and happens to curse a bit, speaks similarly to everyone else, including members of the other family. Some of them only use one curse word, in very specific instances, for emphasis.
I couldn't help but notice all this happening throughout the two-part film.
There is also the appeal to the ambitious middle class family in it. All those shots about the places they lived in and their lifestyle before and after meeting Michael and the material stuff they enjoyed even before it, such as the technology. It is clear this was made to appeal to the HBO viewers and make them feel relatable to their demographic.
Well, this actually shouldn't seem strage at all. For all we know, a lot of money went into making this film and it'll be used to fuel the multi-million dollar lawsuit that Wade Robson made against Michael Jackson's Estate.
The only character in this that doesn't work is Amanda Rodriguez/Robson. Her exaggerated valley girl accent is so disruptive. She was already 37 years old at the time, I just don't understand.
On the other hand, the two moms serve their purpose well. Wade's mom represents the betrayed fan who couldn't believe the level of abuse and betrayal Michael Jackson allegedly committed. Safechuck's mom represents the typical enraged parent that will do anything to "kill all pedophiles". Just like the ones that tortured to death those people that were accused via hearsay in the U.S. in one occasion.
A very thoroughly produced piece of media, and one I'd be wary of if I you are a formally educated critical thinker as myself.