Reviewed: Birdman (15)

Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Written by: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo

Genre: Drama / comedy

Running time: 119 minutes

This is really Michael Keaton’s come back film and is a prime example of ‘Life imitating Art’.

The film centres around a has-been Hollywood actor Riggan Thomson (Keaton) who was famous in the nineties for playing a superhero character called Birdman but turned his back on the fame and fortune to be taken seriously as a versatile actor. Unfortunately, Riggan never really hit the heights of his Birdman success and has now invested everything (including the Malibu house) to write, direct and act in a Broadway play which he has also adapted from a 1981 Raymond Carver play titled “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.”

Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson

Riggan is a complicated and tortured soul who still keeps a framed poster of Birdman in his dressing room which the cast and crew presented to him. Occasionally we hear the picture of Birdman talking to Riggan with that gruff Batman voice of Keaton’s and he argues with his alter ego with destructive consequences. The only thing reassuring him is his old friend and producer of the play Jake (Zach Galifianakis) who constantly tells Riggan that the play is going to be a huge hit and the public will flock to see him. However, during a rehearsal on stage, the leading man has an accident and Riggan has to find a replacement at very short notice. Fortunately his leading lady Lesley (Noami Watts) suggests an ex-boyfriend but he is very unconventional and something of a loose cannon called Mike Shiner (Ed Norton) and Riggan has no choice but to employ the actor to save the show. What he doesn’t account for is the relationship that grows between Shiner and Riggan’s costume lady and fresh out of rehab daughter Sam (Emma Stone) causing fiction between the two acting ego’s.

Michael Keaton and Ed Norton

I would say that this film is something of a curiosity and probably not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ but I really liked it then again I have a soft spot for quirky movies that are well constructed and out of the ordinary. Although the film is called Birdman don’t be fooled by the trailers that appear to show Transformer style monsters and a Birdman character in a full feathered suprhero suit. This is not a Superhero film...or then again is it? That’s the thing with  Alejandro González Iñárritu he has directed this film in his own unique way and keeps the audience guessing all the way until the last frame. The movie has a slight claustrophobic feel to it as 90% of the camera shots are in one take. We follow the actors walking through the narrow corridors backstage in a real theatre and even up to the rooftop and back which makes you feel as though you’re there and part of the mayhem.

Ed Norton and Naomi Watts

The whole cast are brilliant Zach Galifianakis plays it straight for a change and his character Jake who is very protective of Riggan and tells him what he wants to hear. There is a funny moment when Jake and Riggan are discussing a suitable replacement for the leading man and Riggan mention’s some star name choices such as Fassbender, Downey Jr. and Renner only for Jake to say that they are still  tied into Superhero franchises. Naomi Watts is believable as the actress who has been given a chance to appear on Broadway for the first time and is forever grateful, Emma Stone is good as Riggan’s daughter who is only just getting to know her Father properly and her character brings the film up to date by explaining the positives behind trending as video of her Father half naked goes viral with 800,000 hits.  Andrea Riseborough plays Riggan’s long- time girlfriend Laura (with benefits) and Ed Norton is brilliant in a supporting actor role as the self-obsessed method actor who almost ruins the play.

Emma Stone

But the film belongs to Michael Keaton who puts everything into his performance not too dissimilar to his character Thomson. Keaton gives us ‘wart’s an all’ in this role looking every bit his age complete with hairpiece and stubble. Although Keaton made a few good movies over the years such as Beetlejuice (1988), The Dream Team (1989) and Pacific Heights (1990) he has not made anything of any quality since the late 90’s and on. So maybe this is his last attempt to be remembered and perhaps even a shot at an Oscar?

If nothing else, this film will make you think and you’ll be discussing it for ages.

Foker On Film four out of five.

In cinemas January 1, 2015.

Certificate 15