The Gist: A washed-up actor that once had a brush with stardom by playing a costumed superhero is trying to recapture fame and fortune by writing, directing, and starring in a serious play on Broadway.
Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was this year’s winner of the Best Picture Oscar and it was deserving of the honor. The movie is original, flawlessly acted and directed, and its continuous-take play is awe-inspiring.
The one-take approach is pulled off so seamlessly that I actually only noticed it after about 50 minutes. At that point, I had to rewind a bit, then a bit more, and then a bit more still, just to make sure I wasn’t mistaken. I wasn’t. Sure, the whole movie isn’t done in only one take, but there are very few cuts and they are almost impossible to find. That’s ballsy, and it took a lot of planning and rehearsing.
Alejandro González Iñárritu took home three Oscars for Birdman: Picture, Director, and Writing. Appropriately, Emmanuel Lubezki was named best cinematographer for his artistry.
The only one left empty-handed was Michael Keaton, whose chances of winning Best Actor rose dramatically towards the end of the voting period. Did he deserve to win? Not compared to the guy who ended up winning. Keaton is good for sure, but before awarding him such a prize I’d like to see more top notch work from a guy who’s been in the industry for decades but never particularly wowed me.
The Bottom Line: Birdman is a great, original movie that might require a couple viewings and an open mind, but ultimately, it’s a must see.
Grade: 9
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