Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Starring: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Lindsay Duncan
Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An aging actor (Michael Keaton) reflects on his early career blockbuster success while trying to launch an ambitious Broadway play.

Review:

Tim: Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is easily one of the best films of 2014. It won 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. That automatically makes this a must-see. While I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would definitely place it on my top 10 of 2014 list, I have to say I would have awarded a different film the best picture of the year. Still, this wasn't a bad choice on the part of the Academy.

One of the things that makes Birdman so fascinating is how difficult it is to accurately assess exactly what this movie is. It's a comedy and a drama, it's a commentary on Hollywood's obsession with superheroes, it's a gritty look at the fleeting quality of fame. It's a story about the old and the new, social media and the importance of remaining relevant. It's a behind-the-scenes look at the theater scene on Broadway. It's a story about a dysfunctional family. The film riffs on the career of Michael Keaton and of the difficult reputation of Edward Norton. It's a look at a man spiraling downward, possibly suffering from mental illness. I could go on, but you get the idea. Director Alejeandro Gonzalez Inarritu crams ten films' worth of theme into one crazy, unexpected journey.

Perhaps the best parts of the movie are the technical aspects. Inarritu directs a film that looks and feels totally unique. I loved the idea to make the film seem like it's one continuous take. Obviously that's not true, but the editing gives it this continuous, spiraling, slightly off-putting feel that we don't often see in films. How Inarritu managed to pull this off is astounding and he very much deserved his Academy Award for Best Director. The cinematography is brilliant and bizarre- there's so many moments that stick out in my mind. From the opening, underwear-clad floating scene to the telekinesis, the giant bird robot, the Keaton-Norton fight, the look and feel of the stage- this is a very visual film. It's not one that you will soon forget.

I've always been a fan of Michael Keaton (I grew up with him as Batman). I've always lamented that he did not have a bigger career. He's a great actor and I loved this return to form for him. It was incredible to see this performance, which echoed his own in many ways (although he's stated that he is very dissimilar to his character here). His performance is occasionally spellbinding, but it's in a quiet, restrained manner. He does have a few moments that just completely blew me away. Outside of the technical aspects of the film, Keaton is the main reason to check this out. Edward Norton was a great supporting actor, riffing on his reputation as a difficult actor to work with. He's this unlikeable, self-centered scoundrel that also happens to have great talent. I was glad he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, because his performance is so strong. Emma Stone was a nice addition to the cast. She has a few powerful scenes that helped her snag a nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Zach Galifianakis was cast against type, but I enjoyed his restrained, straight performance. Naomi Watts was nice in a small role, and I was glad to see the underrated Andrea Riseborough here as well. Really, the cast as a whole is pretty fantastic.

Now, I might not have felt quite the emotional connection to the characters that I would have liked. I do wish I cared more about them. Inarritu directs a technically incredible film that features great performances from the cast, but the story felt a little lost in the midst of everything else going on. You had the appearance of one continuous take, you had the odd scenes of Keaton displaying telekinesis (which was obviously just in his mind). You had Birdman the alter ego conversing with him. You had this blending of fantasy and reality, both in Keaton's mind, as well as the on stage scenes of the play and the real life sequences off stage. It's all so much. The positive is that Inarritu manages to cram so much into one film- that's remarkable. Unfortunately, the characters and the story are just slightly shortchanged because Inarritu has so much to say on so many topics.

While I might not have placed Birdman as my top film of the year, I am awed by what Inarritu created here. There's no doubt this is one of the most impressive films of 2014 and in many ways, I'm glad it won the Academy Award for Best Picture. This is a movie that pushes the boundaries of our expectations and what a movie can be. The experience is unique and unforgettable. This is a truly great film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: 21 Grams, Babel