Co-written and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film stars Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, and Zach Galifianakis. Riggan Thomson (Keaton) is a washed-up actor who achieved worldwide fame two decades prior with the "Birdman" superhero franchise. Since then, the industry refuses to take him seriously as an actor, so he mounts his own comeback, adapting a short story by Raymond Carver for Broadway and directing and starring in the production. But in the days leading up to opening night, he must battle the inner demons that have plagued him for years, especially his struggle to finally break free from the shadow of his alter-ego. It's very difficult to summarize this film in a nutshell because it's so many things at once. For starters, its a criticism of the current state of the film industry, where style is prioritized over substance and more and more good actors are feeling the need to attach themselves to superhero franchises (Woody Harrelson, Michael Fassbender, Jeremy Renner, and Robert Downey Jr. are the actors called out in the film; and Edward Norton, who has played the Hulk, ironically appears in the film as a method actor who would never follow that path). The film closely mirrors Michael Keaton's life (for example, he last played Batman in 1992, which was also the last year in which Riggan played Birdman), though the script allegedly wasn't based on, or written specifically for, Keaton. Stylistically, the film is bold, loud, and over-the-top. The cinematographer (Emmanuel Lubezki) deserves a special shout-out, for he transformed a common Broadway theater setting into a colorful, visually stimulating backdrop to the story. The drum score was a fantastic choice to convey the frantic mind in which Riggan must live, and it's too bad that it was disqualified from Oscar contention. The long, unbroken takes give the film a documentary-like fluidity, but the almost comical close-ups of the actors bring the film back into the fantasy world it inhabits. There are just so many positive things to say about the film - the cast is collectively fantastic, but Keaton is especially outstanding. The screenplay perfectly balances the predominant hilarity with some melancholic moments. Iñárritu's work is truly mesmerizing, for he created a film with so many dimensions and layers that all work seamlessly together, and the final product is a truly one-of-a-kind filmgoing experience. I haven't decided yet if it's my favorite film of 2014, but it's most definitely in my Top Two.
Should you see it: Yes!
Grade: A
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