Doesn't Measure Up To The Praise

Rating: 5/10 (23 February 2015)

Birdman had an interesting setup and drew me in well enough. Hearing that this is the movie that could win Michael Keaton an Oscar was my biggest motivation for seeking it out. It reminded me a little of Manchurian Candidate in that you weren't sure what the significance of what you were watching, which creates a unique atmosphere. Eventually, however, it turns out to just be about a guy who puts on a play that luckily becomes successful despite some bumps in the road. On top of that, the open ended finish invites us to interpret some of the stranger moments. Except that the movie told an almost straightforward, linear narrative. The effect was that I had no interest in digging deeper. I didn't care much about the characters or their success or failure. It felt like a movie that threw in some stylistic tricks to make up for a routine story. Many of those elements were well done, such as the acting and the soundtrack, but it did not add up for me.