Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance): Review

Remain ignorant going into this film; it really is a virtue. The trailers for Birdman don't really do much to inform you of the plot of the movie, and that's precisely how it should be. This is a film which is a genuine experience in the cinema, and one which requires almost no CGI or explosions to keep the story interesting. In fact, Birdman himself openly berates this style of film-making. And you know what? It was brilliant. 

Riggan (Michael Keaton)

The film tells the story of Riggan (Michael Keaton). Riggan's a guy whose life has gradually ground to a halt, and who mirrors Keaton in an almost comical fashion. Back in the late 80s, Riggan played the role of Birdman in a series of action movies which slowly faded into obscurity (similar to Keaton's portrayal of Batman in Tim Burton's adaptations). Nowadays, he's trying to put together a stage production, all the while being belittled by Birdman's little voice in the back of his mind. Riggan's also struggling with a crazy wife, ex-junkie daughter, and a pretentious method-actor who's seemingly trying to sabotage his play. Basically, he's a pretty down-on-his-luck guy. 

I won't ruin the rest of the movie, because it's a fun and enthralling ride, and also because it's ultimately the characters which become the focus. The film is made to seem like one, continuously-running shot without cuts, and this leads to a movie which feels like an on-stage production within itself. This means that every character portrayed in the movie feels far more genuine than many others I've seen, because you get to experience their emotions in real-time. For example, Riggan's daughter Sam (Emma Stone) has a brutal monologue directed at her Father in which she screams at him for his overwhelming desire to remain relevant, but then once the fighting ends, you're left watching as Sam slowly regrets her harsh choice of words. It's a feature which wouldn't be possible in a movie directed in any other manner, which is why Birdman is shockingly unique. 

Sam (Emma Stone)

Of course, a movie driven entirely by characters wouldn't be a lot of good if the characters themselves were forgettable. This is definitely not the case. Every role portrayed is either funny, likeable, or detestable - usually a blend of all three. There were some genuinely surprising performances however, such as Riggan's producer Jake, played by Zach Galifianakis. Usually Galifianakis is known for his comedic work  -specifically in The Hangover - but even he had some dramatic scenes which really worked. 

Verdict
Birdman is a movie which I'd heard great things about, and now that I've seen it, I imagine I'll be telling everybody similar praises. It certainly won't be beloved by fans of high-action blockbusters, but that's the point. It's a movie which pokes fun at other movies, and one which still manages to tell an interesting, thought-provoking story throughout. It's a movie about celebrity, popularity, relevance, family, and so much more. Put simply: If Birdman had released just one day earlier and therefore been in 2014, I definitely would have placed it highly on my top 10 of the year.

"People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, 

philosophical bullsh*t"