By now, the movie Birdman needs little introduction. The dark comedy has not only received rave reviews from almost every critic, it won the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay and Best Actor (for Michael Keaton) and is nominated for dozens other prestigious accolades yet to be awarded. I finally got around to seeing it this week, and it certainly didn’t disappoint!
Michael Keaton plays the role of Riggan Thomson, an ageing, failing actor whose only recognisable role has been as a superhero in the old Birdman movies (we could assume a sort-of Batman type role, as Keaton was the original Batman). His career is fading, and so is his acting legacy. People are beginning to forget about him, but Riggan is determined to put his face back on the map.
We follow Riggan as he attempts to revive his career by adapting, directing and starring in a Broadway version of a Raymond Carver play. We see a man lose his hope and his dignity as his life spirals out of control, all the while still taunted by his old identity- Birdman. I thought the real question, or theme, of the movie was: How far will someone go to be remembered? This movie gives us a dark insight into the world of fame and how it affects people.
To begin, I have to mention the superbly chosen cast and stunning acting. Michael Keaton portrayed the role of the desperate-yet-hopeful actor amazingly, showing multiple tones of emotion throughout and drawing the audience in with his character. The supporting cast complimented his performance and every character felt real and true, the cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts.
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu adopted a very interesting camera style throughout the entire movie. The way the scenes are shot, with the camera moving flowingly around and following the characters as though we are a fly-on-the-wall, creates the illusion that the entire movie was shot in one long take. You can feel the urgency in the scenes because of this, and little touches such as leaving in the occasional line fumble really created a sense of realism, as though everything were happening right here, right now. I have yet to see another film that has executed this so perfectly, but I have a feeling we’re about to see a few more attempts after this triumph.
Another element worth mentioning is the soundtrack, which primarily consisted of a single drum-kit accompanying the action. At first I found the drums a bit distracting, but after about 20 minutes in they become part of the piece and barely noticeable. The drummer punctuates the scenes, playing softly in calm moments, then rising to a clashing crescendo when emotions begin to run high and the scenes intensify.
I would love to say that the entirety of the movie was simply amazing (as it was, for the majority), but there’s one element that disappointed me – the flying. As Riggan’s mental health deteriorates, he begins to hallucinate that he can fly, and we are sent on a soaring journey over New York city as he flies happily. I can understand why it’s there, to show him losing grip on reality. But it also did the same for me. The movie went from a beautiful piece of close realism to…. what the hell going on? How is he flying?
This is a real shame, as the movie would have most definitely been a 5 star rating from me without the flying. Still, this is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time and I’d recommend anyone who hasn’t seen it yet should go see it quickly!
