Bad – Awful – Horrible – and I am Being Nice

Rating: 1/10 (3 February 2015)

Obviously I did not like this movie. There was no beginning – no middle – and no ending. For me – one big question mark led to another and then to another and then to another – pretty much non-stop. The story might have been more digestible had there been answers to the questions – but there were none. Additionally, that jittery, jumpy camera work - so awe-inspiring for some critics - was just plain irritating to me. Also, I did not care about this mythical ego-battle between Hollyweird and "The THEATER." This phony megalomania is false, since it is easily squashed when THEATER elites are offered a shot at the big screen. Once Tinsel-Town beckons, those bright lights of Broadway quickly become short-lived memories, vanishing as soon as the twinkling radiance disappears from the actor's rear-view-mirror. Oh and the actors, what happened? Every character (with the exception of the Zach Galifianakis') was not just flawed, but were all socially destroyed. Every scene opened with whimpering or fighting or complaining – it was one emotional train-wreck after another. "Birdman" was definitely no comedy, that is for sure. Other than the relief I felt leaving the cinema, I can only site one redeeming scene. That scene would have to be the snarky spat between the Michael Keaton character and the THEATER critic. This obvious demonizing of critics was so well woven into the story, with subtle intent. It didn't really appear that important to the movie's success. Oh but I think it was vital. Even if the scene of the two of them arguing came across as your typical, "Birdman", scene-by-scene mindless banter, I feel there was another reason for this. To me, it appears as a very successful 'warning-off' of negative reviews - and for that I say bravo and award one star. To be truthful, I had a hard time writing this review. I did not like this movie, and espousing my negativity was easy. That is not where my problem lies. On other movies, I actually agree with what many views my fellow reviewers' have penned in the past. On this flick, I must disagree. This movie was not my favorite; is not my favorite, and will never be my favorite.