Review - Birdman (2014)

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2015)

Day one of Cinemark's Oscar Movie Week 2015 has finally arrived, and Birdman is actually the first of the eight Best Picture nominees I've seen this year. I've been sort of slacking off, but it's time to kick back into full gear! This is also the inaugural review for what I can only think to call "Sploich.com 3.0".
And ironically enough, "rebirth" is a major theme of my first review. Birdman is the story of actor Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), known best for having starred in the fictitious blockbuster Birdman franchise almost two decades ago. Since then, his career has dwindled to nothing more than a footnote in the history of film, but he believes his new Broadway show will change that. During the projection of his play, he suffers from schizophrenia brought on by his former cinematic alter ego.
Keaton's performance is downright masterful as he, to some extent, satires his own career. He brings to life a fascinating character whose existence has ultimately amounted to a question mark. He's on a journey of self-discovery while also knowing exactly who he is and what he's become. As you watch, you see the pieces of his mind fall in and out of place like balls in a bingo cage.
Riggan's condition is only made more confusing and dangerous by the people around him. His daughter/assistant Sam (Emma Stone) is a recovering user, his actor Mike (Edward Norton) is uncontrollable, and his lawyer Jake (Zach Galifianakis) is a constant reminder of what's at stake. The entire ensemble is fantastic, and it's great to see them all in such perfect roles with which they can showcase their talents. It's also great that Keaton, Stone and Norton all have been prominent characters in superhero films. I can't imagine that was by accident.
Maybe the most jaw-dropping aspect of the film, and one that can't really be portrayed in any trailer, is the fact that the entire movie is filmed as one long "uncut" shot. Obviously there is some clever editing involved, but that makes the experience seem all the more magical. It feels like you're watching a stage show, while never feeling any less like a film. It's a brilliant choice that I'm sure was a pain to produce, but the end result was absolutely worth it.
Director Alejandro González Iñárratu should be commended for his work, and not just because he finally made a movie that isn't soul- crushingly depressing. He decided not to take this story so seriously, producing a very dark comedy, and the result is virtually perfection. This movie is a film-lovers dream come true. The fantastical tone mixed with the real-world surrealism creates an experience unlike anything I've ever experienced, and I highly recommend you experience it as well.