'Through the Looking Glass'

Rating: 10/10 (14 December 2014)

I rarely bother to do more than rate a movie, unless it had some profound impact on me. To say that about 'Birdman' would be an understatement.
This movie left me feeling as though every emotion I've ever experienced and every thought I've ever had were condensed in 2 hours of amazing cinema and then reflected back at me, defying me to stare them in the face, right there, in my seat.
The need to be relevant. The despair upon figuring out that there's no such thing. The need to create an identity. The angst upon realizing that holding on to it might make you miserable. The need to connect with others. The emptiness of seeing you're actually alone. Love. Unconditional, familial love. Practical, day-to-day, love, or lack thereof. Dedication to one's craft. Elation. Societal approval. Anger. Self-hatred. Self-deprecation. Regret. Fear of dying. Detachment. Meaninglessness.
These are only some of the themes that struck a chord in me.
I think that what these people have achieved is phenomenal. Michael Keaton displays an acting range unlike anything I've seen in a while and has an intensity that is mesmerizing. The sheer courage of taking on a role that basically has him looking in the mirror is worth a round of applause. Edward Norton's character is the embodiment of the Actor, with a capital 'A', not unlike Norton himself. Emma Stone is perfectly believable as something other than cute and proper and has a few very powerful scenes. Overall, the entire cast is superb.
Some people are disappointed with the plot and the action. Others say it's a pretentious actor's movie. Many think it's a satire of show business.
It may very well be some or all of those things. But, to all these people, I say: you've missed the point. You need to look in the mirror, too.