Is it a bird, is it a plane? Oh, it's a bird. That's that sorted

Rating: 8/10 (6 August 2015)

With all the superhero movies infesting the screen, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to ask the question, 'What will happen to the stars once they get too big to fit into their spandex costumes?' Here, Michael Keaton once played the (apparently iconic) superhero 'Birdman' back in the early nineties. Back then he ruled the silver screen the way Robert Downey Jr and Hugh Jackman are doing today with Iron Man and Wolverine. However, that was then and this is now. The public have moved on and are more interested in Marvel's 'shared universe' than a man dressed up like a sparrow. So Michael Keaton must attempt to regain his former glory by flexing his acting muscles and put on a play on Broadway.
Easier said than done. He has to finance the thing himself and he's hardly a 'bankable' star any more. Plus his ego is so big that it needs its own dressing room. And, if that wasn't bad enough, his 'Birdman persona' occasionally likes to take over and point out all his failings. Naturally, all this leads to a recipe for disaster.
It sounds like fun. And it is. But it's an acquired taste and definitely won't be for everyone. It's longer than your average film (nearly two hours) and there are long periods of time when it's like nothing really happens apart from actors wandering from one part of a large theatre set to another (normally to shout at each other). I read a couple other reviews that only gave it minimal marks due to 'nothing happening.' I can see where they're coming from (although I don't technically agree) as there is little in the way of a 'story.' It's about a man, who isn't always the 'hero' he thinks he deserves to be, who is clearly having some sort of breakdown. Fantasy and reality are starting to merge and it's not always easy to tell the difference – for him the character and us the viewers. Therefore, there are bits of it that make you wonder how real they're meant to be. Again, this may put off some of the audience.
Then there's the soundtrack. It's mainly a vaguely hypnotic drum beat, endlessly repeated until it's finally parodied in itself at the end of the film – leaving us to wonder whether we're hearing the mindless repetition that actually happening in his own mind.
There's quite a stellar cast too. Edward Norton rivals Michael Keaton in the acting stakes, yet his character seems to fade into the background more during the final act.
If you're into a bit of slightly surreal drama with a hint of knowingness about it and a healthy swipe at popular culture then give this one a go. It's definitely not an easy ride and is not the sort of film you can just 'get' while it's on the background. Get in the mood for something deep and heavy and take a flight with the bird.