Birdman (2014)

** ½ out of ****

Experimental movies are very hit and miss for me. Sometimes they're hilarious (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” 1998). Sometimes they're mind-blowing and thought provoking (“Mulholland Drive” 2001). Sometimes they're just weird and don't work at all (most of the rest of them). And sometimes you just don't know how to feel about them (“Birdman” 2014).

Michael Keaton is Riggan Thompson, an actor who at one time was the star of a blockbuster series of superhero films about a character called “Birdman”. Now, twenty year later he is just another actor trying to make a living in New York. If nothing else the casting was bang on, not only because Keaton is terrific, but because of his real life similarity with his Batman character. Though, of course, Keaton has never been struggling to make a living over the last couple of decades.

Before discussing the experimental aspects, I will say that the cast here is absolutely stellar. Keaton is great, Edward Norton is even better a a brat theatre star, and Emma Stone gives probably her best career performance as Keaton's recovering-addict daughter. They are all working on a Broadway adaptation of a Chandler story, and we follow them through their last few rehearsals and previews up to opening night. Riggan and his lawyer (Zach Galifanakis) are producing it and have everything invested in it, so success is critical. And based on what we see leading up to opening night, highly unlikely. Especially when we learn that New York's most influential critic plans to destroy them out of her dislike for “movie stars” trying to take over theatre.

So that's the plot and the players. It's the presentation that is experimental, and while interesting I still am not sure how I feel about it.

First, the entire film is wound together through clever editing to be presented as one long sequence. There are time lapses but no visible cuts through the entire length of the film. Further, Riggan is holding onto his sanity by the thinnest of threads, constantly hearing the voice of Birdman like the “angel/devil on his shoulder”. Occasionally he even sees him. And his delusions include him seeing himself as being telekinetic, even though he does all of him moving of objects with his hands. Overall the entire film is given a completely unique presentation. And it is intriguing, but doesn't necessarily make for great film.

The movie has been nominated for Best Picture, though I really think it is because of the buzz rather than the Academy liking it. I guarantee you that it will not win. Keaton, Norton and Stone have all received acting nominations and I will say very forthrightly that I hope Stone wins "Best Supporting Actress". Her performance is the very best of the really wonderful lot.

“Birdman is an interesting movie, no question. Is it a great movie? I really don't think so, though it is a good one. And despite the accolades about the unique presentation, I actually think it would have been a better film with a standard format. A marginal recommendation, though if you don't like avant garde, you'll do best to stay away.