Intelligent, intense, absorbing movie

Rating: 9/10 (11 June 2015)

Intelligent, intense, absorbing movie.
The story of a washed-up actor, Riggan (played by Michael Keaton), who gets a last chance at fame and immortality. He adapts a Raymond Carver novel into a play and directs and stars in it on Broadway. The movie shows the roller-coaster ride that is his mind, plus the behind-the-scenes goings on of the play.
Certainly not your average movie. The blurring of the lines between reality and fantasy, as the lead character veers constantly between delusion and actuality, is incredibly intriguing and not a little disconcerting (and this is not necessarily a bad thing).
The plot is simultaneously simple and complex - simple main structure but very complex in the intricacies. Ultimately it is a character-driven movie, and the characters are well-developed and complex.
On that note, it is not all about Riggan. There are some sub-plots involving his daughter, Sam (played by Emma Stone) plus other cast members. These non-Riggan moments provide for respite from the intensity of Riggan and his issues, and are a welcome relief.
While it is the script and direction that set up the movie, it is the performances that complete it - casting is spot-on and the cast act of their skins.
Superb performance by Michael Keaton in the lead role - he well deserved his Best Actor Oscar nomination. Good support from Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough and Amy Ryan. Stone and Norton are excellent and got Supporting Actress/Actor Oscar nominations.
Even Zach Galifianakis, better known as a comedy actor, is solid in his role.
This movie well deserved its 2015 Best Picture Oscar.