Full of itself, but deservingly so?

Rating: 7/10 (21 February 2015)

Hollywood is full of itself, and no movie is as self-serving as Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance. This film is one big ego trip, and its mere premise fails to make the audience feel sorry for main character Riggan, played by Michael Keaton. The disappointing ending adds to the viewer's anger with the selfish Riggan, whose biggest gripe in life is that his stardom has faded. With that said, the movie has entertainment value. Tremendous acting jobs by Keaton, Edward Norton as the self-absorbed Broadway star, and Emma Stone as the recovering addict daughter (all deservingly nominated for Academy Awards) and the illusion of the movie being filmed in one continuous take make Birdman worth viewing, and makes director Alejandro Inarritu deserving of his Best Director nomination.