Movie Review: Birdman

“Birdman” stars Michael Keaton as a former Hollywood actor who’s trying to prove that he can be more than just a comic book hero on the big screen but an artist on stage. As he struggles with problems of family, drinking, and telepathy, he tries to prove to be more than just a has been.

     Let me start by saying this film isn’t for the average movie goer. If you like big, fun entertaining movies, you won’t like this film but if you want to learn more about the film structure and the art of filmmaking, then “Birdman” is your film. Now I enjoy a big blockbuster film with action and epicness but I like to take a break from the blockbuster and just appreciate film for what it is, art and “Birdman” is truly art. Alejandro G. Inarritu gives us a film that’s just beautiful. The cinematography is one of the best I’ve seen ever. Inarritu had the genius idea of editing the film together to make it look like one tracking shot. Now at first I thought it was just a gimmick to do something “original” but oh my God, as I watched the film more I just got sucked into this world that Inarritu created. I have no clue how this film didn’t win the Oscar for Best Editing. It blows my mind. Sure they gave it best cinematography, but it was the editing that made it so good. All I’m saying is the film is edited and shot beautifully.

     As for the acting I have to give major props to everyone involved. Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts  and Zach Galifanakis are fantastic. They give some of the best acting I’ve seen ever, and I mean that, I’m not just saying that to get you to go see the film because if I did that then I’d be a critic who only cared about what you thought of me. But no I want you to see this film I implore you to see this film because I’m not just a guy who critics film, I’m someone who loves watching movies. I don’t have to do this, I could go and work in a power plant for the rest of my life but I’m not. I watch films like “Birdman” and I’m proud of what I do. My favorite scene in this film is when Michael Keaton’s character Riggan destroys this critic because she says she’s going to give his play a bad review because she can. Riggan responds by saying that she’s lazy and how she doesn’t go over the structure of the scene in her reviews she just uses big words to get people to read her article.

      Now I know I’ve gone off on a rant here but “Birdman” is one of the smartest, brightest, and most original films I’ve ever seen. The ending of this film is one of the most shocking and brilliant endings I’ve ever seen in my whole life. There isn’t anything wrong with this film.  The acting is great the lighting is great the cinematography is great the directing is great everything in this film is great. Not just great but flawless! It won “Best Picture” at the Oscars for a reason. “Birdman” is a film I encourage you to see but like I said before this film is for those who view film as an art form. If you only like blockbuster films then you won’t like this film. I’ll end as I always do with my grade of the film which is of course A+.

     Hope you enjoyed this and I hope to see you all soon In the Cinema.

BIRDMAN Rating: R. Director(s): Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu. Stars: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton. Genre: Comedy/Drama Release Date: November 14, 2014. Grade: A+