In 1989 Batman starring Michael
Keaton was released, becoming a worldwide blockbuster hit and arguably changing
the face of cinema and creating a new franchise - the superhero movie.
Since the first Batman movie
there have been 6 others to follow. including Batman & Robin, which was so
bad it took nearly 10 years and a complete reboot of the series in order to
restart the franchise.
Spider-man had an equally
successful run of movies in the early 2000's until Spider-man 3 which was
panned by fans and critics alike, which again took a reboot to rejuvenate the
franchise, albeit less successfully.
The X-Men franchise has also been
largely successful, despite a couple of blips in the running (Brett Ratner I'm
looking at you) but since X-Men: First Class, the franchise seems to be back on
track. With a spin-off focussing on the popular character Gambit, a third
stand-alone Wolverine movie and coming next year, what seems to be a final
movie in the franchise this series of movies is looking quite healthy... for
now at least.
Finally of course there's the
powerhouse which is Marvel. Marvel Comics created their own studio and began
releasing their own movies featuring their own titles (created by Stan Lee) to
mostly massive and unprecedented success. Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk
and even Captain America have become worldwide names in the hearts and minds of
children throughout the world. With many more titles announced by Marvel to be
coming out over the next few years and the surprise success of Guardians of The
Galaxy last year, there seems to be no stopping superhero movies ever being
made.
Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton)
is the actor who twenty or so years ago played Birdman in the popular Birdman
series of movies. Now becoming disillusioned with his fame (or lack thereof) he
decides to reboot his career by putting on a play from a novel by Raymond
Chandler. Riggan feels washed up, his career is over and he has the constant
reminder of that character he played so long ago from fans, friends, family and
his co-workers. He's willing to make big changes to prove the critics wrong
that he's just a one-note actor - but is he doing it for himself or just to put
on a show?
Riggan has a lot to deal with as
well; his daughter and PA, Sam (Emma Stone) who blames him for everything wrong
in her life. His girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough) who may or may not be
pregnant and particularly the renegade method actor, Mike (Ed Norton) hired to
take on a pivotal part in the play at a moment's notice but whose methods are -
unusual.
Shot in what, at first glance,
seems to be in a single take Birdman is a movie that takes it's audience in
many different directions (sometimes all at once) and manages to give the
audience a different and refreshing take on cinema, art, blockbuster franchises
and the meaning of life.
Personally speaking, I am a big
fan of the superhero genre so when the movie started and Riggan sees Robert
Downey Jr. on a TV screen, only to turn it off after being reminded by his
alter ego that Downey makes considerably more money than he ever had - I was
cautious and curious to see whether the movie would look down its nose at the
movies I love, and I'm pleased to say that I never felt patronised or belittled
for my viewing choices.
Yes, Birdman is partly about
Riggan's dislike for his past career choices and his constant campaign to be
accepted by the critics that would not see his talent any clearer than the
Birdman fans who'd eagerly want his autograph (or a selfie). However, whenever
Riggan is reminded about that time in a derogatory way, the Birdman side of his
psyche would awaken suggesting a longing for the kind of acceptance and
adoration that had so easily come before, and maybe never will.
The first 20 minutes Birdman
starts like a play. Flawlessly set up scenarios taking Riggan from one place in
the theatre to another, it feels like one as well but as the film progresses the
audience soon settles in. It's evident that Birdman has brought the audience to
the theatre, and although the style of shooting may seem like a gimmick, the
theatre is exactly where the director has brought the audience, whether they
wanted to go there or not.
The cast for Birdman is
exceptional and knowingly so considering the inclusion of Michael Keaton, Emma
Stone and Ed Norton - all of which have appeared, albeit briefly, in various
superhero movie franchises. Keaton is outstanding in a role the likes of which
many actors would no doubt be dying to play (I wonder if Robert Downey Jr is
jealous) and like Riggan Thomson, his career is no doubt going to change
dramatically in the next few years. Emma Stone is as usual an extremely
likeable screen presence and arguably has the best speech in the entire film,
knowing her dad's career and his personal life as well as she does, she seems
to be the most self aware character in the film.
Andrea Riseborough and Naomi
Watts, although playing minor and somewhat stereotyped roles manage to hold
their own. Their characters may not be all that fleshed out but they add a lot
to their respective characters that make the audience want to know more about
them, even if they're not given that chance.
However the stand out performance
has to go to Ed Norton who steals every scene he's in and undoubtedly gets the
biggest laughs of the entire film. He's able to flow through scenes with an
almost improvisational flair and get laughs and have the audience warm to his
character, despite his eccentric and somewhat single-minded views of the world.
Before you go to see Birdman, you
should be under no allusion that this is the start of another blockbuster movie
franchise. There are no big special effects (well maybe a little) and there are
no damsels in distress waiting to be rescued by the muscled hero. Birdman is a
thoughtful and inspiring movie which reminds movie-goers why they go at all and
if you do go with somebody who does enjoy the special effect movie blockbusters
that envelope our multiplexes then expect a lively debate of the current state
of cinema and how films like this can make your mind feel as free as a bird.
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