A Beautiful, Satiracal, Character Study

Rating: 10/10 (12 December 2018)

Birdman is without a doubt one of my favorite films of all time. Everything from the directing to the casting is meticulously crafted to create one of the most compelling films I've ever watched. That being said, the film is by no means a superhero film. I feel that most people dislike this film because people expected it to be a superhero film. To oversimplify, the film is basically a character study of Riggan Thomson (played by Michael Keaton), a washed up actor trying to jumpstart his career by creating a broadway play. Along the way, we're treated with cinematography that presents the film as if it's one take, characters that are expertly acted by legends like Edward Norton, and a satirical message about Hollywood's fixation on the superhero genre that doesn't come across as too preachy or pretentious. Overall, Alejandro González Iñárritu crafted one of my favorite films of all time and while it may not be for everyone, it certainly left a great impression on me.