You will not forget this film

Rating: 10/10 (1 November 2014)

A priceless film by director Alejandro González Iñárritu, a genius totally at odds with Hollywood values, and one not fearing to ask of his actors total truth and exposure and even madness to get at the bare and painful truth of the story. Michael Keaton plays Riggin, an aging actor famous for his Birdman character in a Batman-like, comic book movie from twenty years earlier. Washed up and broke, he now risks whatever is left producing and acting in an old play about love by a famous playwright he once met in a bar. The play is now rehearsing on Broadway, and Riggin is torn and thrashed at every turn by the play's production problems, his star actor's arrogance, his own past, his angry daughter, a vicious media critic, and most especially the insane voice in his head and his life-threatening fear of failure.
Director Inarritu, he of 21 Grams and Biutiful fame, fashions a film story unlike any director working today, more like a play than a film, with no "movie star turns" by any actor, with no one character overpowering the others, all working for and off each other for the best end result....the most truth in themselves and in the story. Keaton was an inspired selection for the lead considering that he once played Batman 20 years ago, and that he obviously had personal experience with a lot of the same emotions that Riggin felt....trying to come back, trying to overcome old and worn out fame, trying to prove that he was more than a has-been movie star. Riggin was also giving his life trying to prove to himself and the world that he could make it as a real producer/actor in the toughest venue possible....Broadway. He must prove it to himself... even after he harmed his chances by scolding a hateful critic that was determined to make his play a flop. Plus, as if more pain were needed, Riggin was a "recovering" alcoholic and an guilt-ridden absentee father to his resentful daughter who was helping out as a gofer. All of that impossible to overcome? Yes, perhaps, except for grace that the Unintended Virtue of Ignorance might provide.
Edward Norton and Naomi Watts were strong support, along with a great turn by Zach Galifianakis as Riggin's agent/manager/best friend, and Emma Stone as his daughter. Inarriti always gets such honest but tortured performances from his actors, and the result of that effort is a film that surely will be a future classic and is without a doubt the best film of the year to date. Keaton is a lock for a Best Actor nomination as is Inarritu for Best Director. The searing and painful truth of this story and its superb acting is what great and classic films are made of. You will never forget it.