A psychological journey into your own identity.

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2015)

This film runs deep into the psyche of the artist. It's the sum of itself and won't leave the cinema in your head but in your heart. The narrative never asks the audience any questions, it simply presents you with a possible truth and through the nature of the medium the audience superimposes this truth onto themselves and then assesses the result; and that is power. A straightforward narrative in the broad sense, there are few surprises in the plot and the 'big wow' moment is setup in a fairly blatant manor early on. I was a little disappointed by this setup. The presentation of the content had me off balance for most of the film, like I said it made me ask a lot of questions of myself and if the 'big wow' was more of a surprise it might just have led to a profound personal experience. The acting and potential for acting is phenomenal. This script is one of those rare treasures where it's pretty good on the page but give it to a talented cast that can connect with what lies beyond the lines and you have an incredible film. The performance gives it power. Making the audience believe that they are somehow looking in on the truth of what happens in the lives of these people (like films rarely do) becomes super-realistic as people are rarely that honest with each other in their own lives. The characters are rich and vibrant with challenging character flaws and strengths that are complex and informative of the characters. You get to see them when they are lying to each other, then you get to see they turn around and share an honest reaction with themselves. The supernatural element that is and isn't important, which is or isn't a delusion, and that is or isn't real, flows easily into the film. It makes you obviously aware of the film and the medium while keeping you focused on yourself, I mean the character; what better way to get people to question themselves? Never allow full immersion but being so truthful that you can't help but allow it into your mind. Cinematographically the film keeps the unity with extended shots, lapsing time and blending scenes into one another without overtly cutting in the edit. This makes the audience feel more present, more like a peeping tom, more like an invader in this other person's life that makes you uncomfortable, conscious and questioning. The lighting is immaculately done though the flares got a bit much. Costuming and props were spot on, the presence of the wig and the magic of backstage in a theater during a performance, all contributed to the most subconsciously conscious film I've watched in a very long while - consuming more mainstream pop culture than festival films might mean that's a deficit on my part. I'll end off with the dialog that made me cringe and smile. It's a quote from French Novelist Gustave Flaubert and reads; "One becomes a critic when one cannot be an artist, just as a man becomes a(n informant) (original - stool pigeon) when he cannot be a soldier" (October 22, 1846). There, in questioning identity, is the power of "Birdman" (Iñárritu 2014).