Birdman

People, they love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit

Riggan Thomson used to be a blockbuster star, but it was a long time ago. In an attempt to reclaim past glory, he writes, directs and plays the leading part in the stage adaptation of Raymond Carver's short story «What We Talk About When We Talk About Love». Riggan has to face many difficulties: the skeptical daughter; the critical contempt; the trolling of Mike Shiner and, first, his alter ego…

Birdman, with sufficient simplification, could be described by these words – the self-parody. Michael Keaton, who was the best Batman, plays his own distorted image – the washed-up actor, who desperately tries to succeed in the «real art». Riggan Thomson is the quintessential dinosaur – despises the social networking; tries to rebuild relationship with his estranged daughter and worries about not getting in the headlines, if a plane of him and Clooney would crash.

Alejandro G. Iñárritu makes fun of the modern Hollywood, where the form has taken over the substance. The modern culture, in author’s opinion, got the same traits – the cheap épatage; the silly tweets and the stupid YouTube videos could make more popular, than the «real art».

The author pokes the washed-up actors in general, who are trying to reclaim their glory be acting, which is incomparable with their acting possibilities. In order to show the limits of Riggan’s acting, the director creates the character of Edward Norton – the grotesquely method and brilliant actor. A critic also shows Riggan the difference between real and fake acting.

The film uses, jokingly, the theme of temptation. His alter ego – Birdman, constantly tempts Riggan Thomson. As a classical demon, he constantly seduces Riggan to abandon art and return to the easy buck of blockbusters. Birdman, by giving Riggan the supernatural traits, shows him the advantages of an easy path.

Birdman is a very good film. I would be surprised, if this film will not get any Oscars.

9/10