The emptiness of Birdman makes me sad

Rating: 1/10 (7 March 2015)

Some of my very favorite movies are about the subject of taking a look behind the curtains of the movie industry. I'm talking about the brilliant films All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard. Both movies featured an actress, struggling with age and a declining career. As I am writing this I realize why I probably loved these film's anti hero's and why I hate Birdman: only women are awesome when hysterical, definitely not men. Lately I kind of start to hate modern 'art house' movies. These movies take themselves so seriously, and that's why they are so boring. In my opinion, opposite a cynical character should be a lovable and warm character. But in the movies of especially this Inarrity guy, all characters drown in their indulging misery. It's like you, the movie goer, is forced to agree with him, which I completely reject. I hated 21 Grams and Biutiful, but I only realized after starting Birdman. I couldn't make it till the end of neither one of the 3 films. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with misery. I watch many documentaries on the most terrible subjects. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why I dislike Inarritu films, only vague notions come to my mind. Manipulation, shallowness and narcissism embody the undercurrent.
---
The first time I watched Birdman I couldn't get past 15 minutes. I hated it. I got so frustrated of the confusing images and sounds. I had expected something completely different about a Broadway actor's tragedy.
I started reading about this movie and after a couple of week I thought I give it another try. I did, and I managed to finish the movie.
First of all, I still don't understand what all the hype is about. There have been so many films before that surrealistic imagery and dualistic characters. However, maybe for the young public this is their first multi layered movie. Modern about Birdman is the 'found footage' aspect and the acting out personalities. Todays people terrorize the world with their tantrums. Me me me. The swearing and verbal violence is actually horrible. Has society really lost all dignity? There wasn't one person going for a higher goal than attention seeking.
This time I didn't hate Birdman. This time I feel sad for the director and cast and the academy. Despite the long running of this film nobody really touches any emotion, not with me. I think Alejandro Inarritu really thinks he is as great as Billy Wilder and Alfred Hitchcock were, but he isn't. Not by far. The filming engineerings might be awesome but the personages have no soul. The emptiness of Birdman makes me sad.
Only Michael Keaton has enough screen time to somehow get close to him, the rest of the cast has too little screen time. They all get an introduction and then a belting out scene and that's it. I didn't like any actor in this movie except Keaton. It's not their fault but the all to clear purpose that this movie had to become Oscar bait.