Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego
and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days
leading up to the opening of his Broadway play. (119 mins.)
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One thing that this film proves is that even at the age of sixty three, Michael Keaton can rule! This time he is poking fun at the his own career choice of playing a superhero with the fact that he has played Batman (Batman & Batman Returns) in the past makes his appearance all the more hilarious & ironic. The story follows Riggan (Michael Keaton), a washed up actor who used to play a superhero icon called Birdman. In a valiant attempt to reclaim his career, he adapts, directs, and stars in a Broadway play. With problems from one of his very method actors (Edward Norton), assistant daughter (Emma Stone), emotional co-star (Naomi Watts), overly sexual girlfriend (Andrea Riseborough), flamboyant producer (Zach Galifanakis), and loving ex- wife (Amy Ryan), Riggan prepares for the breaking point of his career well of course while dealing with his "inner voice" of the alter ego Birdman. This movie left me feeling as though every emotion I've ever experienced and every thought I've ever had were condensed in 2 hours of amazing cinema and then reflected back at me, defying me to stare them in the face, right there, where I sitting & saying wow! Every aspect of the film is masterfully crafted and executed & the brilliant cinematography only exemplifies this. The brilliant choice of always having the camera rolling lets the viewer see what happens before and after any given event. This added information creates a realism unknown to nearly every other movie ever made. What better way to capture the raw emotion and awkward stumbling of an angry outburst at your father than to show the immediate reaction of the ranter following her outburst; you get to see the anger slowly fade from her face as the reality of what she said sets in. Rarely does a film come around that manages to be creative, original, funny, well acted, spectacularly anchored, well written and technically profound. The film has an excellent cast ensemble - Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, Ed Norton, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, every single actor gets to shine in their moment of screen time provided & utilize its full potential. Michael Keaton has been criminally underutilized in his career, despite some iconic performances. While the nerd crowd (Like me!) worships him as one of the most ideal Bruce Wayne/Batman combo, his career hasn't been stellar and it's a surprise I even knew his name before I saw this film! But his performance in this film deserves all the attention he gets and all the awards he is being nominated for. Riggan is a complex character and you are never quite sure about him, how he feeling and how he feels towards others, not only because of how Riggan changes as the film goes on but also because of how that reflects the ever-changing nature of the film, moving from one question or theme to the other without actually leaving it behind, instead leaving it in the back of your mind for you to think about later. A scene-stealing standout, Edward Norton makes us realize how unspoken dialogue between characters can be just as humorous without the punchline. is brilliant (playing the self-obsessed, ego-driven actor who feels more real on the stage than off it, Mike Shiner). Emma Stone has finally arrived in 2014!! Criminally misused and passed over by Hollywood for "bigger name" actresses, Stone finally shows the world what they've been missing. In one single scene, Stone revolutionizes and captures the essence of a "father-daughter" with a ferocity that you couldn't see from any other performer. She finds the heart and soul of Sam, laying her on the screen meticulously and transparent. Zach Galifanakis (playing Riggan's agent, Jake) is probably his most grounded role, is also brilliant. Though brief in screen time, the vivacious Naomi Watts, the sexy Andrea Riseborough, and the seasoned Amy Ryan make their marks exquisitely. Watts gets the most chuckles out of the ladies while Ryan has the greatest arc for us to explore. The only criticism I have about the film is that more aren't like it. A smart, satirical movie that is capable of criticizing without being hypocritical is unfortunately rare. However, it's rather nice to have movies like this stand out from the crowd instead of being the norm, because the relative quality only makes them that much better. On the whole "Birdman" is so damn enjoyable and one of the most entertaining films I have seen in years. It charms not just because of its story, but because of the performances and slick way that director Alejandro González Iñárritu plays with tone. It's downright hilarious in parts, and then there's the dramatic edge that comes into play, and simply breaks your heart. Above all, "Birdman" is a celebration of cinema. It's an audacious achievement that floors just about every aspect of film witnessed in 2014. ” - saadforever890
Add to Watchlist
One thing that this film proves is that even at the age of sixty three, Michael Keaton can rule! This time he is poking fun at the his own career choice of playing a superhero with the fact that he has played Batman (Batman & Batman Returns) in the past makes his appearance all the more hilarious & ironic. The story follows Riggan (Michael Keaton), a washed up actor who used to play a superhero icon called Birdman. In a valiant attempt to reclaim his career, he adapts, directs, and stars in a Broadway play. With problems from one of his very method actors (Edward Norton), assistant daughter (Emma Stone), emotional co-star (Naomi Watts), overly sexual girlfriend (Andrea Riseborough), flamboyant producer (Zach Galifanakis), and loving ex- wife (Amy Ryan), Riggan prepares for the breaking point of his career well of course while dealing with his "inner voice" of the alter ego Birdman. This movie left me feeling as though every emotion I've ever experienced and every thought I've ever had were condensed in 2 hours of amazing cinema and then reflected back at me, defying me to stare them in the face, right there, where I sitting & saying wow! Every aspect of the film is masterfully crafted and executed & the brilliant cinematography only exemplifies this. The brilliant choice of always having the camera rolling lets the viewer see what happens before and after any given event. This added information creates a realism unknown to nearly every other movie ever made. What better way to capture the raw emotion and awkward stumbling of an angry outburst at your father than to show the immediate reaction of the ranter following her outburst; you get to see the anger slowly fade from her face as the reality of what she said sets in. Rarely does a film come around that manages to be creative, original, funny, well acted, spectacularly anchored, well written and technically profound. The film has an excellent cast ensemble - Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, Ed Norton, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, every single actor gets to shine in their moment of screen time provided & utilize its full potential. Michael Keaton has been criminally underutilized in his career, despite some iconic performances. While the nerd crowd (Like me!) worships him as one of the most ideal Bruce Wayne/Batman combo, his career hasn't been stellar and it's a surprise I even knew his name before I saw this film! But his performance in this film deserves all the attention he gets and all the awards he is being nominated for. Riggan is a complex character and you are never quite sure about him, how he feeling and how he feels towards others, not only because of how Riggan changes as the film goes on but also because of how that reflects the ever-changing nature of the film, moving from one question or theme to the other without actually leaving it behind, instead leaving it in the back of your mind for you to think about later. A scene-stealing standout, Edward Norton makes us realize how unspoken dialogue between characters can be just as humorous without the punchline. is brilliant (playing the self-obsessed, ego-driven actor who feels more real on the stage than off it, Mike Shiner). Emma Stone has finally arrived in 2014!! Criminally misused and passed over by Hollywood for "bigger name" actresses, Stone finally shows the world what they've been missing. In one single scene, Stone revolutionizes and captures the essence of a "father-daughter" with a ferocity that you couldn't see from any other performer. She finds the heart and soul of Sam, laying her on the screen meticulously and transparent. Zach Galifanakis (playing Riggan's agent, Jake) is probably his most grounded role, is also brilliant. Though brief in screen time, the vivacious Naomi Watts, the sexy Andrea Riseborough, and the seasoned Amy Ryan make their marks exquisitely. Watts gets the most chuckles out of the ladies while Ryan has the greatest arc for us to explore. The only criticism I have about the film is that more aren't like it. A smart, satirical movie that is capable of criticizing without being hypocritical is unfortunately rare. However, it's rather nice to have movies like this stand out from the crowd instead of being the norm, because the relative quality only makes them that much better. On the whole "Birdman" is so damn enjoyable and one of the most entertaining films I have seen in years. It charms not just because of its story, but because of the performances and slick way that director Alejandro González Iñárritu plays with tone. It's downright hilarious in parts, and then there's the dramatic edge that comes into play, and simply breaks your heart. Above all, "Birdman" is a celebration of cinema. It's an audacious achievement that floors just about every aspect of film witnessed in 2014. ” - saadforever890
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