Keaton delivers the goods in an Oscar worthy triumph - One of the year's best.

Rating: 10/10 (16 October 2014)

BIRDMAN OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE) (2014) **** Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Amy Ryan, Andrea Riseborough, Lindsay Duncan. Keaton delivers the goods in an Oscar worthy triumph as a washed-up former star of the titular superhero that gave him fame and fortune as he attempts a comeback and shot at redemption in bankrolling a vanity piece on Broadway adapting Raymond Carver's "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" that has its share of problems namely a troubled production, egotistical Norton out to train wreck the show, family struggles with his ex, Ryan and recently rehabbed daughter Stone and a thisclose to a nervous breakdown taking root with his inner voice (and demons) deadly to implode (or explode) at any given moment. Filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarrito (who co-wrote the inventive screenplay with Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinerlaris & Armando Bo) uses broad, yet carefully maintained, strokes between fantasy and reality with a lot of meta going on (pokes at inner jokes among its cast in-real-life having played Batman, Gwen Stacy and The Hulk) succeeds in incorporating its seemingly continuous one-take look (credit ace cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki and sharp editing by Douglas Crise & Stephen Mirrione) keeps his cast on its toes. The percussive score by Antonio Sanchez is a jazzy Greek chorus of sorts that keeps the beat relentless and steady-as-she goes. But once again it is Keaton's bravura turn mixing heartbreak and black comedy with shades of Shakespearean tragic drama. One of the year's best.