Birdman

Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance is a highly acclaimed 2014 dramedy directed by the visionary Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film stars a powerful ensemble cast that includes Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, and Andrea Riseborough, who all deliver incredible performances.

In a fascinating meta-narrative, Michael Keaton, best known for his 1980s and 90s portrayal of Batman, steps into the spotlight as Riggan Thomson – a washed-up Hollywood actor who once played the iconic superhero Birdman. Riggan's glory days are long past, his public image waning, relevancy in a constant state of flux, and private life is overshadowed by turmoil and existential crisis. As a last-ditch effort to resurrect his fading career, regain artistic relevance, and reclaim personal satisfaction, Riggan risks everything for a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love."

Riggan doesn't just act and direct within the Broadway play; he also co-produces it while assuming other administrative duties, some assisted by his stressed-out best friend Jake, played by an effective Zach Galifianakis. These various roles collide with each other, creating comical, often chaotic, scenarios painted with streaks of bitterness, frustration, and desperation. The relentless behind-the-scenes activity, coupled with Riggan's personal demons and the pressure to be a success, puts him on the precipice of lunacy as he confronts his haunted past, disjointed present, and uncertain future.

Filling out the complex ensemble is Edward Norton as Mike Shiner, a brilliant yet challenging actor who is both an asset and a threat to Riggan's production, and Emma Stone, who portrays Sam, Riggan’s recovering addict daughter, fresh from rehab and working as an assistant to her father. Naomi Watts and Andrea Riseborough play performers in the production who are dealing with their personal difficulties and ambitions, making the story rich and layered with characters and their intertwined lives.

What sets Birdman apart from other movies is its unique filming style. Alejandro González Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Luzebeki create the illusion that the film is shot in a single, continuously rolling take. It's an ambitious, stunning feat of camera work and staging which not only enhances the storytelling but also immerses the viewer inside the frantic energy of a Broadway production. It's a technical marvel that complements the quirkiness and unpredictability of the narrative.

Iñárritu's screenplay, co-written with Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo, is sharply poignant, filled with sardonic humor and keen observations about celebrity culture, the ego and vanity of actors, and the meaning of art in the modern world. Birdman blurs the line between reality and Riggan's mind, often intruding on his thoughts and fantasies. The role of Birdman (the superhero) acts as a constant reminder of Riggan's past success and current ambitions—haunting, taunting, and coaxing him towards different paths.

Michael Keaton's flawless performance shows an array of raw, powerful emotions. It's a highly nuanced portrayal that reinforces his status as one of the finest actors in the industry. Riggan Thomson is a character with insecurities, self-doubt, arrogance, and vulnerability, all wrapped in one, and Keaton delivers it convincingly every single step of the way, resonating deeply with the audience.

Birdman's soundtrack, dominated by Antonio Sanchez's improvisational drum score, intensifies the character's internal and external chaos. It follows Riggan's internal beat, stirring the pot, driving the narrative forward and further sinking us into Riggan's complicated world.

All in all, Birdman is a sophisticated, visually striking, and thought-provoking film about self-worth, fame, career reinvigoration, dysfunctional relationships, and the search for artistic fulfilment in a world obsessed with celebrity culture. It's a movie well worth watching, not just for its solid performances and skillful direction, but for its daring reinvention of narrative and form, offering a theatrical experience unlike any other.