Entertaining

Rating: 7/10 (16 February 2019)

A former Hollywood superstar (Michael Keaton) was famous as a film superhero over twenty years ago. He attempts a comeback to fame by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway play.
Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, shows the same adept work in "Birdman" as he did in his best works "Amores Perros" and "Babel". There is almost a playful way the camera moves through the thin zigzag halls of the backstage of the theatre, giving the viewers the experience of the cast and crew in their daily work.
Overall, there is a welcome liveliness in "Birdman", not only in the directing, but also in the acting. Keaton heads a solid cast that also includes Edward Norton (a standout), Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, and Zach Galifianakis.
The story is good but might have been better considering the other achievements in this film. It seems to be trying to grasp something that is profound but only partly hits the mark. Also, a few cheap and old tricks lower the overall effect. A sitcom gag of being "locked out" in a very inconvenient way is decades old. Also, the cheap thrill of a spontaneous "girl-on-girl" kissing scene may not be as old but it's just as stale.
"Birdman" is still an enjoyable experience especially considering that Keaton (who was a superstar in two "Batman" movies over twenty years ago) might possibly be playing himself.