Friday, October 24, 2014

BIRDMAN (A)

Bottom Line: Michael Keaton hits a stylistically twisted homerun without even using a bat, man…  Certain to garner a slew of nominations come Oscar time, BIRDMAN is a master class in storytelling – a darkly comedic examination of the search for relevancy at the cost of celebrity.  Soul searching ensues with dashes of purpose, legacy and public perception all played out to perfection. Playfully bizarre, dazzlingly layered, hilariously energetic and elegantly schizophrenic – this expertly crafted flick teasingly zigs and turbulently zags at its examination of artistic integrity, self realization and the ongoing battle between high art and blockbuster gold.  Its seemingly unedited, one-continuous-shot approach lends itself brilliantly to the freestyle jazz-like vibe of the film – a whirligig, center stage circus of complex human emotions given depth and life by career defining (and career echoing) performances from both Keaton and Edward Norton.  It should also be noted that Stone, Galifianakis, Riseborough, Ryan and Watts all give standout performances in their supporting roles.  In a (mostly) unanimous moment of critiquing clarity, BIRDMAN is indeed one of the must see movies of the year.  There’s something to enjoy here for both 'snob' and 'sheep'.  Look!  Up in the sky!  It’s a bird.  It’s a plane.  It’s…  Oh wait, it actually is a bird – and this BIRDMAN soars!
 
Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Stone, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan and Naomi Watts
Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu (BIUTIFUL, BABEL, 21 GRAMS and AMORES PERROS)
Rated: R
Running time: 119 minutes
Studio description: BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue Of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor (Michael Keaton) - famous for portraying an iconic superhero - as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. (c) Fox Searchlight
 
Official site: www.bridmanthemovie.com

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