R
Running time: 1 hour 59 minutes
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Lindsay Duncan, Merritt Wever, Jeremy Shamos, Akira Ito.
Synopsis
A black comedy that tells the story of an actor - famous for portraying an iconic superhero - as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.
Review
A direct mirror to Michael Keaton’s post-‘Batman’ career, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman is a masterpiece in its own right. Edited in the form of one long continuous take, the film explores all the behind-the-scenes drama of a Broadway production. Enter Riggan Thompson, a washed-up blockbuster superstar who wants to be taken seriously in show business. Keaton, a veteran actor who’s now a buzzing Oscar’s contender, has provided his character that raw nature of being on the brink of failure, making Thompson a tragic character struggling with his inner ego and artistic manner. Taking time off from dealing with his demonic self, sanity and family problems, Keaton’s Thompson has to fend off the pressure exerted by famous method actor Mike Shiner, who is excellently portrayed by Edward Norton. The scenes between Keaton and Norton is pure spellbinding, with each hurling dialogue at one another with so much passion and energy and all that showmanship, the chemistry is undeniably the best within the already solid bunch of ensemble cast. The visuals are fantastically forward-driven and engaging, particularly the ones involving Thompson’s delusional alter-ego Birdman. The score, mainly composed of detuned drum beats, echo the grim repercussion of what the protagonist’s ignorant attidude may bring. Above all the theatrical mayhem and abstract madness, ‘Birdman’ is the reason why originality is sucha pivotal need of modern cinema, a product of pure cinematic fascination and pasisonately induced creative instinct.
Rating
Full 5 Stars
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