bold, masterful, and memorable

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2019)

Riggan Thomson was a famed actor who gained recognition for playing the lead role in a superhero film series. More than two decades later, he's faded from the limelight and continually tormented by a derisive inner voice and a vivid, overactive imagination. Determined to stay relevant and be recognized as a serious actor, he takes on the task of writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation, taking his girlfriend, lawyer/best friend, estranged, strung out daughter, and a talented but loose cannon method actor along for the ride. An intense, surreal, and immersive movie experience with terrific dialogue, outstanding visuals, clever, self-referential humor, and a story that's riveting from start to finish. Nearly every actor is phenomenal across the board, and Inarritu's crafty directorial style is astonishingly effective, allowing for several tense, character-to-character interactions that will both shock and amuse. An impressive and unique piece of work, with an ending that'll leave much to talk about afterwards. ***½