Birdman (2014)

Title: Birdman

Sub-Title: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu 

Starring: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, and Edward Norton

Released: 2014

Personal Rating: 4.5/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot: A washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero must overcome his ego and family trouble as he mounts a Broadway play in a bid to reclaim his past glory.
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Single Shot
How this movie transitioned from scene to scene was just amazing. I was really worried that they would fuck it up, but they didn't. It is really one of the most beautiful things in this film. There are time lapses and those are done without changing the scene. Such as looking up at the sky as it changes from night to day. A complex story is still able to be told even while using this type of filming technique.

The Ending
As I don't like to give spoilers in these written reviews, I won't discuss it in full here. What I will say is that it took me a little bit after the film to digest it. It is made clear that none of the characters have supernatural powers. I do disagree when people say the fantasy begins and why his daughter is looking up at the sky at the end. I do like that the ending is open to interpretation and it allows a whole lot of discussions to flourish.

Comments on Different Types of Movies
One thing I didn't like was the judgmental attitude towards those who liked big action films over artsy films. There isn't a problem with people enjoying one type over the other. I agree that it feels bad when a deep, intelligent film does worse than an explosion movie. But people shouldn't be blamed for liking something.

Final Thoughts
Everyone in this film did a good job. It was sort of odd seeing Zach Galifianakis in a serious role, but he did a good job. It was only awkward for his first few minutes of screen time. The music also deserves a round of applause as the drums became more violent, at least to me, as the movie went on and Keaton's character drifted further into madness. If you want to support the film see it in theaters, but I don't think a home viewing will ruin the experience.