Cast: Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts.

Direction: Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Produced: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, John Lesher, Arnon Milchan, James W. Skotchdopole.

Written: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr., Armando Bo.

Genre: Comedy Drama.

Duration: 199 Mins.

Thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking and, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman” or “The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” is Meta in its commentary. Its self awareness allows the film to philosophise through its characters and structure, experimenting with both form and themes. The scripting and dialogue writing unifies with seamless hilarity, with sophistication and intelligence while being simultaneously crass enough for anyone to relate to. The absurd, quirky and larger than life characters and their deep brooding conflicts support the plot and lubricate the heavier moments of the film for easy digestion.  Witty, poetic and side splitting dialogue with sleek delivery and genre bending themes and devices ensures that this film will be a cult classic.

The cinematography is stellar, and indulgence in experimentation has paid off as the long undulating shots coupled with the offbeat jazz drum score that runs through majority of the film accentuate the film’s fluid nature. The entire cast delivered terrific performances, however Keaton and Norton truly stood out while Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis were incredible in their own right. Keaton’sportrayal of a washed up Hollywood actor in the throes of an existential crisis is riveting, endearing. 

 

Birdman is just one of those films that emerge with a uniqueness that breathes new life when cinema seems to be stale and recursive. All aspects coexist, thrive and emphasize important commentary on life, truth, art, mortality, perception, validation and love; the film shimmers with a brilliant timelessness. 

 It is extremely difficult to write a review for this film, there is nothing about it that one can express without positive superlatives. I would advise to view it with no expectations in all its immersive glory