so much appealing about this film but 2 main factors
mexican director - alejandro g inarritu - babel and biutiful
and mexican composer - antonio sanchez - pat metheny group
enough said - the buzz about the film of no consequence - i'm in
bold black white and red lettering opening the film in staccato style
a way cool solo jazz drum sequence playing as the credits roll
and a quote from raymond carver piques the interest levels
and did you get what you wanted from this life even so
i did - and what did you want - to call myself beloved
to feel myself beloved on the earth
opening scene - riggan thomson (michael keaton) in his room
levitating - and other objects also seen to move mysteriously
he being reprimanded by a mysterious voice - ah - the muse
then seen moving from room to stage - fellow actors at work
a kitchen scene from 'what we talk about when we talk about love'
rehearsal only - one male not up to it - sacked - riggan also director
then frantic back-stage scenes and a sense of the urgency of it all
and a realisation this has all been one shot - russian ark-ish - yay
not quite - some clever and obvious transitions are being utilised
the solo jazz drumming used at those times - me - totally hooked
edward norton then enters as the new actor and the sparring begins
clever stuff - actors playing actors being actors - lines are blurred
the main man riggan also has a past mega-hit franchise (birdman)
with it an obvious reference to keaton's previous role as a batman
so many layers - so absorbing - so well cast - so balanced - so good
naomi watts steps up and blitzes any prior role as fellow actor lesley
emma stone as riggan's daughter sam - those eyes - totally rivetting
there's the ex-wife and the theatre critic also - all strong female roles
a real sense that director alejandro innaritu is well in awe of women
blah, blah, blah - just so much on offer in this beautifully crafted film
but back to the story - riggan is struggling to prove himself as genuine
not just a celebrity but a serious actor and director - but with it a sad life
infidelity and career costing him his marriage and his daughter's respect
surely also another nod to real life for many caught up in film/stage
one scene from carver's play is used repeatedly in the film itself
this set in a motel room and a husband busting his cheating wife
he then producing a gun and threatening then taking his own life
end of play but seen each time in the film the intensity increases
off-stage riggan is also having some real life relationship problems
his ex-wife, daughter, girlfriend all adding to his state of despair
sam stunningly screaming at him regarding his place in the world
'you're nobody - you don't even have twitter or a facebook page'
and his muse - not seen but heard pushing him to do a sequel
resurrect birdman - it will make billions - a loud, deep voice
riggan hits the bottle for escape but with it more complications
the pace is frenetic and so much going on but brilliantly managed
it's impossible to predict how it's going to end as the final act starts
a real gun and a real shooting in the motel scene - does riggan die?
possibly - we now see birdman hovering over riggan's shoulder
pushing him again and now fantastical scenes of the big sequel
downed helicopters, explosions and a transformer-ish monster bird
riggan seen flying above it all as though in after death out of body
but then a cut back to a hospital bed - he has a blown off nose only
his ex-wife lovingly by his side and sam also makes a forgiving visit
the play - receiving rave reviews - sam has set up a twitter account
85,000 followers in one hour - proving cross generational success
seems he has now the love he craved for and suggested at the start
but then left alone - his muse cowering in the bathroom - 'fuck off'
an opening of the window - out on to the ledge and then he is gone
sam re-enters - dad? - her stunning eyes then up high and smiles
the end - whoa - what a ride - 2 hours of a full-on intense film
so so much to like about this film and a want to see it again
and the soundtrack - the solo jazz drumming just brilliant
keaton and norton - top stuff - oscars for both of them
and director alejandro inarritu - surely the same
9 nominations apparantly - it should clean up
i reckon - 5 stars from me - loved this film...
