Chris Tucker, Brett Ratner and Michael Jackson

This interview was conducted on August 7, 2007 by Nathan Rabin of A.V. Club with Chris Tucker and Brett Ratner, actor and director of the Rush Hour film series. Here are excerpts from the parts of the interview that relate to Michael Jackson. Nathan Rabin: Tell me about working with Michael on the You Rock My World video. Chris Tucker: Working with Michael Jackson means working with a legend and with someone I admired. It was unbelievable. Throughout my career I learned a lot from him. Because Michael wasn’t the type to go running around everywhere. He didn’t put out an album every year—he did it every five years—and then he would show up and bring something huge with him. He really didn’t make himself overly available. I think I learned a lot from him. And I learned not to put myself on display too much, at times. Nathan Rabin: Was collaborating on this video the start of your friendship with Michael? Chris Tucker: We already knew each other. I knew him. If you watch all my movies, you’ll see that there’s some kind of connection to Michael. I think it’s because I grew up with him. The first time I met him was around the time he was making the second part of Rush Hour. I was in New York, and I called and said, “I want to see Michael. Is he around?” I couldn’t find him. I came back to Los Angeles on a private jet. The moment the plane landed, my phone rang: “Chris, Michael wants to see you tomorrow morning.” I went into the cockpit and said, “Okay, take me back to New York. Tomorrow morning I have an appointment with Michael Jackson at the Four Seasons hotel.” They said, “What are you saying to yourself?! We have to inform the news office. We can’t just do what you’re ordering.” They coordinated with the office and said, “Okay, send another $50,000 so he can come.” And they brought me back to New York. The plane landed, and that morning I met Michael. That night I went back to Los Angeles… I was constantly flying. In the taxi on the highway I kept checking my messages. That was the first time I saw Michael. I arrived in Los Angeles on a private flight and then immediately turned the plane around. That’s how I ended up meeting him. I never told this story. I’m going crazy—because, come on, I spent a lot of money. Nathan Rabin: What was your impression of Michael Jackson? Chris Tucker: He’s really a normal person. He’s a good person. He’s very kind, he’s really good. He’s genuinely shy. Being around him is a lot of fun, because I really mean it—he’s just a really good person. Nathan Rabin: Do you think he was misunderstood? Chris Tucker: Yes, he was misunderstood. Because he had a different life. He did a lot of things in his life and he’s very talented. He’s truly a genius. Brett Ratner: Honestly, he doesn’t belong to this planet. He’s the most important person in the history of music. His legacy and memory will last far longer than George Bush’s. From now until 200 years from now, people will be talking about Michael Jackson and nobody will even mention George Bush. Nathan Rabin: I remember when I was growing up—he was the most famous person in the whole world. Brett Ratner: It’s not just that. The point is that people who create something—like Mozart and Napoleon—are more famous than Napoleon. Mozart created something and he always stays in music. But Michael doesn’t even belong to this world. It’s like God is channeling through him. If he came and sat here with us and all he had to do was sing just three lines, we’d say, “Oh my God! What is this?!” It’s beyond everything. I’ve worked with a bunch of the greatest artists in the world—from Madonna to Mariah Carey. And Michael is beyond all of them. Spiritually and in terms of meaning, he’s on a completely different level. He has signs of God. Of course everyone has signs like that—everyone has them. But the difference is that he has those signs in his songs and in his music. Michael has these things. They’re in him. And when he starts singing, it’s like God opens the doors through him and reveals those signs within him. That’s why when he’s around people, he doesn’t feel comfortable—because he’s unique and one of a kind. Even just being able to be himself makes him feel blessed. {As quoted by Michael:} “I can’t believe that I’m Michael Jackson.” (laughs) That’s it, really. He’s one of the most unique people. I spent a lot of time with him. Chris did too. We’d sit in the car and listen to music. And then he would move his body in a way that it’s like God is entering his being. I don’t want to put down A$her or anyone else, but you’ve seen it—when they dance, it’s like, “Now one, two, three, four.” Michael dances with his nature. He’s astonishing—truly astonishing. He’s been judged badly, but the truth is he’s a child. Michael Jackson never grew up. But that’s what makes him such a special person. Chris Tucker: That’s what he says about Brett: “I like Brett because he’s like a kid. He never lost his essence.” Brett Ratner: Michael has a child’s mind. And when you have a child’s mind, you can be the wisest person among adults. You learn the truth and the essence of all the nonsense. You know what kids are like? They just tell the truth. Nathan Rabin: They have a special purity and innocence. Brett Ratner: He’s pure and innocent. There’s no ill intent or wickedness in him at all. He’s a child. The essence of a child is real. Nobody is as much like a child as Michael. People might say, “Oh, it’s time for him to grow up. This man is past forty.” But the reality is that this is exactly what makes him special. He sees the world differently. He can read the mind of an adult better than the adult himself. That’s what makes him special. Chris Tucker: And he understands it himself, because that’s exactly what he told me about Brett. (laughs) Brett Ratner: “Brett is an idiot.” “No, Brett is amazing.” That’s our common ground. Look, that’s the point. Michael loves movies. He loves entertainment. He loves music. We all spend the time we’re with him watching movies and listening to music. We hit it off, we dance, we sing, we have a great time. Whenever Chris leaves his house, we go to Miami, and he goes looking for Michael Jackson. You ask them, “So what do you do?” “Well, we were just at Brian Gibb’s house and we were singing those crazy songs.” Chris Tucker: Michael and Barry Gibb were singing together. It was mind-blowing. Brett Ratner: (imitating Barry Gibb’s voice) Chris Tucker: (imitating Michael’s voice) “How deep your love is, deep.” Source: eMJey / avclub.com