Birdman

Let me begin by saying this movie is not for everyone. Thank god for that too! If you are looking for the likes of Batman, the Avengers or Iron Man then you should go somewhere else. Judging by all the bad reviews this film received here it is simple to see that not everyone got what this movie is about nor did everyone appreciate this dark and subtle comedy. Michael Keaton plays a washed up has-been actor--Riggan Thomson-- who got his ticket to fame during the 90s as an action superhero known as Birdman. Micheal Keaton's character, Riggan, is putting all his bets on a last ditch effort to resurrect his acting career by staging a risky Broadway play. Riggan's life is in tatters and the audience gets to witness the wake of chaos in Riggan's life as he struggles to be recognized as a real Broadway actor whilst beset by mishap and obstacle to his success at every turn. Michael Keaton was an excellent choice for this movie, not only for his tremendous acting ability but because in a very tongue-in-cheek way, the movie mirrors to some degree Mr. Keaton's role as Batman. How delicious it is, the man famous for the line, "I am Batman," could deliver such a splendid acting job whist poking fun at his own experience in a very subtle way. Throughout the film, the viewer is given glimpses of Riggan's own super-ego, Birdman, as he struggles to make sense of his life as he faces the consequences of an empty nest built by Birdman. I love the fact that in a very indirect way, this movie takes aim at all the super-hero movies that Hollywood pumps out, aptly referred to in the movie as apocalyptic porno, ha ha! In addition, Ed Norton really delivers on his role as Mike Shiner, a loose canon that really puts Riggan on the edge. In summation, the film is about death and resurrection, not in a literal sense of course, which is why so many seem to not get the ending. So if you are looking for eye-candy, a movie that spells things out for you, or a comedy that panders to the lowest common element, then you won't enjoy this film. However, I'm not an artsy-fartsy pretentious snob either, so if like me, you like dark, strange and symbolic films that require you to open the doors of perception, then you just might like this film. I found it very intriguing, refreshing, and delightful, especially after the slew of super-hero sequel Pavlovian pablum that seems to be the limit of Hollywood's creative capabilities as of late.

Throughout the film and in many scenes, it was impossible at many points to not see overt similarities to Black Swan in plot, theme, mood and character developments. At first I brushed it off, then it began to bother me with just HOW similar some parts were to BlackSwan. However, I'm sure I'm not the first to say that and I know for sure that there's been an over-saturation of amateur and published critics about this film as a meta-, stream of consciousness, fractured postmodernist dark comedy with bits of magical realism and whimsy; all of which play-out under the looming and undeniable themes of mental illness, the modern condition of the individual in a commodified world removed from Truth and the Real in place of symbols, representations and simulations of simulations of simulations that offer false and hollow meaning but sold as essential to belie the emptiness of fulfillment, legacy, meaning and the Real that modern individuals (especially irrelevant celebrities in this case) face as a crises of split, contradictory, fantasizing and purchased identities.In refrence to that description I just wrote, in the hands of any other director the film would surely be the worst kind of mess: a film trying not only to pack in as much substance as it can but one that would undoubtedly come off as pretentious arthouse fodder blatantly forced to try and comment on every whim, idea and cynicism of the day the director felt. The same can be said for Michael Keaton being cast as if it had been anyone else, the film would take itself too seriously.Considering what I and others have written, this movie could take itself too seriously and be pretentious and too cluttered. However, the movie is truly and sincerely a MASTERPIECE. Its a meta-meta-narrative that both uses that genre while simultaneously making fun of it. Much of the social and critical critiques are so subtley, casually and skillfully placed that its only upon reflexion that these themes come out. The dialogue and feel of this movie is dramatic, dark, comedic but also makes fun of itself and these genres simultaneously (providing more layers of the metanarrative on the postmodern, contradictory, non-singular condition) while also feeling very natural and casual without ever stepping too far into any genre or taking itself too seriously as did Oscar fodder Black Swan. I wish I could articulate the sheer greatness of storytelling, plot, directing, MICHAEL KEATON'S PERFORMANCE, the themes, the questions you're left with and how the darkness of the play does not drag it down as the cast and feel and absuridity of this movie makes you smile and dance right along happily with its absurdity.And, while the themes are lofty and as I have only recently watched it but plan many more viewings, I know I missed plenty in there. The darker and bigger, macro themes of the modern human and societal condition are apparent as one watches it but the viewer will be having too much fun watching this amazing cast give amazing performances and remain transfixed to the screen until the end credity. It's only after, I believe, that upon reflexion and processing the film is when one is happily left with some incredible themes presented in the best way possible and modern cynicism and nihilism suddenly become framed positively in contemplation simply because they are tied to this film that, for me, worked on every single level and I can't wait to watch it again