Modern Shakespeare at it's Finest

Rating: 10/10 (26 February 2015)

Birdman Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is without a doubt the best film of 2014. Its original and relatable plot and innovative cinematography create an astonishing work of art and paints a vivid intellectual portrait of the desire to regain one's relevance and to prove their worth. The film feels like a new and refreshing take on the works of Shakespeare.
The films that I enjoy the most are the ones that I can relate to. Seeing Riggan Thomson as he struggles to distance himself from the schlocky superhero franchise that he is widely associated with and prove his greater talent as an actor feels similar to how I have progressed in life. As someone who faces very different yet all to similar challenges (i.e. depression, anxiety, learning difficulties), I have continually battled to achieve some degree of success and I try to accomplish my goals in spite of my obstacles. Perhaps the biggest question that is brought forward is how does one stay relevant in a changing society? Riggan struggled to maintain his popularity after leaving the multi-billion dollar franchise that made him a success and wants to stage a comeback though his Broadway production. He knows, however, that his play will likely be a disaster and that he will really only be remembered for his past role as Birdman. The message that I have interpreted from this theme is that true art, whether it be film or music or the like, does not usually get the wide attention that it deserves and that popular crowd will almost always be attracted to the flashier and more fantastical (but typically of lesser quality) fare. This makes a good statement on the superhero genre as well... it will either make an actors career or destroy it entirely.
The struggles that are faced in this film can be compared to Shakespeare's writings, particularly that of Macbeth. Riggan himself is Macbeth, ambitious and willing to go to any length to fulfill his goal and strives to prove his true artistic talents. Birdman, who inhabits Riggan's consciousness like a separate personality, is like Lady Macbeth, taunting and manipulating Riggan at every turn. Everyone from the critics to cast mates and even Riggan's own daughter have little faith in the production. The play itself seems destined to fail, but in the end, which I won't spoil too much, Riggan does succeed in some ways. How does he do it? Well, that is for the audience to decide.
Birdman's complex themes and amazing presentation form a masterpiece of cinema art and left a lasting impression on me as the viewer. The film could even have worked as an audio book or even as an actual stage performance itself. The film recently won several Academy Awards including Best Picture, and rightfully so. All of the film's aspects including its script, cinematography, and performances make it one of the best films in recent memory.