With
an
alternate
title,
"The
Unexpected
Virtue
of
Ignorance," which
appears
in
the
movie's
opening
credits;
Academy
Award
Best
Picture
nominee,
"Birdman" is
an
intense,
tantalising
and
a
dramedy
with
an
ambiguous
ending.
It
stands
out
as
a
unique
film
that
spurs
your
mental
quotient.
"Birdman"
is
a
tale
of
a
fading
superhero
Riggan
Thomson,
who
attained
stardom
based
on
his
work
in
a
string
of
comic
book
superhero
films,
"Birdman,"
is
fighting
his
neurosis.
The
film
showcases
Riggan's
personal
demons
that
include
his
domestic
issues
and
internal
torment.
To
revive
his
sagging
image,
Riggan
Thomson,
stages
a
comeback
as
a
writer,
director
and
actor
by
mounting
a
stage
production
of
a
Raymond
Carver
short
story,
"What
We
Talk
About
When
We
Talk
About
Love,"
on
Broadway.
Set
on
a
stage
and
between
the
rehearsals
for
the
play,
the
narration
unfurls
bringing
to
fore
Thomson's
insecurities
and
his
interpersonal
relationships
with:
his
now
separated
wife
Sylvia
(Amy
Ryan),
his
daughter
Sam
(Emma
Stone),
his
friend
Jake
(Zach
Galifianakis)
who
is
also
his
producer
and
attorney,
his
co-star
and
girlfriend
Laura
(Andrea
Riseborough),
Lesley
(Naomi
Watts)
a
first
time
Broadway
actress,
Mike
Shiner
(Edward
Norton)
a
method
actor
and
Tabitha
Dickson
(Lindsay
Duncan)
a
theatre
critic.
Michael
Keaton
fits
into
Riggan
Thomson's
boots
with
passionate
grace
and
ease,
meditating,
drinking,
hallucinating
and
fighting
his
way
forward.
He
comes
out
as
a
tortured
jittery
personality.
You
relate
to
him.
Yet,
you
don't
feel
sorry
for
him
when
he
admits,
"I
missed
the
moments."
Or,
"I
wasn't
present
in
my
own
life."
He
emotes
that
realisation
and
nervous
helplessness
with
panache.
And
that's
what
probably
works
for
him
in
the
film.
While
all
the
ladies
do
their
bit
to
perfection,
it
is
Edward
Norton
who
steals
the
show
as
the
perky,
confident
method
actor.
He
goes
to
extremes
with
his
obsession
to
bring
neo-realism
on
stage.
He
is
a
live-wire
and
his
presence
on
screen
elevates
the
drama
and
humour.
Artistically
crafted,
the
film
is
intellectually
challenging
and
emotionally
confronting.
The
director
along
with
co-writers
Nicolas
Giacobone
Alexander
Dinelaris
Jr
and
Armando
Bo
have
designed
the
plot
as
a
long-drawn
anxiety
packed
nightmare
of
complex
characters.
But
unfortunately
these
plot
points
are
superficial
and
shallow
in
nature
as
they
don't
traverse
beyond
the
developmental
stage.
These
in
no
way
hinder
the
overall
effect
of
the
film
or
its
narration.
The
dramatic
pace
along
with
cinematographer
Emmanuel
Lubezki's
manipulative
camera
work
gives
the
appearance
that
most
of
the
film
is
one
continuous,
seamless
long
take.
What
adds
to
the
viewing
experience
and
enhances
the
psychological
effect
of
the
film,
is
its
frenzied
background
score.
Its
adrenaline
packed
leitmotif
of
the
drum
score
by
Antonio
Sanchez
is
effectively
used
to
create
and
drive
home
the
point
of
the
insanity
prevalent
in
the
narration.
Overall,
the
film
is
a
must
watch
for
its
unconventional
presentation,
style
and
performances.