I feel as though everyone misunderstood this epic

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2015)

After watching this film for about the 10th time in the matter of a few weeks I went on IMDb to read about how awesome everyone else thought this film was. I was shocked to see how many people didn't like it, and as a matter of fact many loathed it. One reviewer said he would of rather starred at a blank television screen for 2 hours than watch this film. I wasn't sure that we were talking about the same movie or not. I literally thought that this was one of the best films that I've seen in the past 5 years. Reviewers however, keep saying that it had bad acting, bad directing, bad soundtrack, and a bad plot. I hate to say it but if you honestly think that I think you missed the entire point of the movie and what it's about.
Bad Acting? This is one of Michael Keaton's best films he has ever been a part of. He gives the strongest performance out of the great actors that he is on screen with. The scene where he is telling off the critic from the New York Times is nothing short of amazing. It's also great to see how he slowly starts to lose grip with himself and with the world around him. Edward Norton, as always, gives a solid supporting performance... he truly shines as a narcissistic,self-absorbed,brilliant stage actor. Emma Stone gives one of her best performances as well. She is a troubled, misguided youth who never really got to know her father. And now since she is out of rehab she is thrown into her father's world of celebrity/acting chaos. It's really something to see her character develop in this movie. Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and Zach Galifianakis all give solid performances. These characters are the glue that hold this story together because the plot doesn't necessarily revolve around them but they are key figures in moving the story along. Without them, this movie would of certainly lost some of it's charisma.
Bad Directing? (Deep breath)..... Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu deserved every single Oscar that he was given. This film won for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Directing, and Best Writing/Original Screenplay. SO many people were on here saying "don't believe the hype" or "critics in Hollywood don't know anything about movies anymore." Do people realize that scenes in a movie last about 30 seconds to a minute as far as acting goes??? Then the director yells CUT and the scenes ends/changes. In this movie so many scenes are about 10-15 minutes long! That means that these actors are staying in character, remembering their lines, knowing where to go, all while a camera is following them or moving around them while they try not to notice it! It's one long continuous take after another with this movie. That's the beauty of it... It's almost as if it is a play but in motion picture form.
Bad Plot? Yes, the theme of this story has been done a few other times. No, this is not exactly how theater or cinema works. They are using the theater as a vehicle to tell the story. Even though I played high school football in my youth, I don't look at a film like Remember the Titans and think to myself.... "this is such B.S., they wouldn't of been able to do that in football!" We all have to look at the big picture of the movie not how "realistic" it is when speaking of the theater. I think for the most part this movie got a lot of things right. On top of all this as well, the film is a satire. It is supposed to exaggerate real life in a humorous way to point out others vices or flaws. This movie is steeped in so much dark comedy that numerous views have to be done in order to take it all in.
This movie is very important to American cinema. We are entering into a weird/crazy world of acting and movies now. I don't want to live in a world where Vin Diesel, Adam Sandler, Jackie Chan, or Dwayne Johnson are all the top grossing actors in the world. I think at the end of the day that's the great metaphor that this movie is focusing on... what do you want to be known for? Do you want to take the easy way out and settle on something that will make you money or do you want to take a chance on something and really show the world what you're capable of regardless of the rewards?? So many of the greats throughout history have been misunderstood or misinterpreted. In my opinion that's why this film is titled "Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance", because Riggin is so hard on himself and so sure that his play is going to be marked as a failure even though it is honestly something brilliant.
"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds"