Birdman

*****
UK Release Date: January 1st 2015

A washed up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play. (www.imdb.com)

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 Grams, Babel, Biutiful)

Starring: Micheal Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts

How the mighty have fallen. At least that can be said for Michael Keaton and his altruistic, mess of a man Riggan. The opening scene sets up we need to know, and what kind of film it's going to be. He's meditating in his backstage dressing-room, and it's all-of-a clutter. The one point that cannot be unnoticed is the fact that he's levitating. Maybe he can, or maybe it's in his mind. Either way, our sense of belief is untouched. He can't escape the voice inside his head, the voice of the Birdman, his alter-ego, or the Superhero that made him a success. Now he's a washed up actor (sound familiar?) attempting to relive the dream through a new Broadway show of Raymond Carver’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Keaton is in fine form here, an intrinsic part of a bigger picture. Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (its full title), is a wonderful experience to watch and almost be a part of. Gravity Director of Photography Emmanuel Lubezki seemingly glides us through one continuous shot, following Riggan for the most part, weaving through corridors, different backstage rooms, on stage, up to the roof and through Times Square. Lengthy takes have been stitched together, fooling out minds and our eyes. It's the best piece of art in film this side of the century. Director Inarritu manages to bring out the best in his cast, whether it's Zach Galifianakis in a serious role (hard to believe, but he pulls it off) or Edward Norton as an ostentatious Broadway star that's hired as a last minute replacement for the show. He becomes the talk of the preview shows, which berates Riggan to no end. It's a joke about Norton's acting career, and he embraces it. Emma Stone's daughter to Riggan has recently come out of rehab and hits a high note too. Birdman is odd, vibrant, funny, dramatic, serious and poignant. It has it all. The award ceremonies will be difficult this year, but Birdman has enough on display to be a cut above the rest.

5/5