His latest project, Birdman, focuses on a struggling actor, Riggan (Michael Keaton, in a role that surely hit very, very close to home), who is struggling to put his career and his life together some 20 years after leaving a role as an iconic superhero. Riggan is starring-in, writing and directing an adaptation of a Raymond Chandler story on Broadway in an ambitious last-ditch effort to redeem what have been, at this point, a decades-long series of regrets and bad decisions.
The Good: the way this film is shot is truly invigorating and immersive. Using long tracking shots, the film gives the illusion of being one long shot. There's a manic, subversive energy underlying the entire film, and a lot of that is due to the way that the film is put together and presented. Incredible cinematography from Chivo Lubeski. (who also shot last year's Gravity) Accompanying this occasionally off-putting and raw energy is Antonio Sanchez's score, consisting merely of drums. The script is often hilarious, and in a dark and meta way. Keaton's character has a "devil" over his shoulder in the character of Birdman, and this conceit is used in dark and funny ways. The cast is great, led by Keaton and Edward Norton. Naomi Watts, Emma Stone and Zach Galifinakis are all strong as well. Keaton's performance is raw, darkly funny, and deeply personal, and he rises to the occasion, even if that occasion requires him to spend an inordinate amount of time in his tighty-whities. Keaton isn't the only character existing on a meta leval, as Norton's brilliant yet impossible to work with and deeply meta character hits close to home as well. This film is smart, dark, and touching, hitting all the right notes on something that feels at once like a deeply personal character study and an occasionally whimsical or even silly exploration of the creation of a piece of art, performance art in particular.
The Bad: This may seem like nitpicking, but it really distracted me. Riggan is supposedly the director of the play in question... but all he ever does is hang out in his dressing room and doesn't actually direct anyone ever. I mean, it's fine, it's just a movie, but it distracted the hell out of me. If I have a legitimate criticism, it's that it isn't QUITE as smart as it thinks it is, masking a lot of it behind a smooth, quirky and funny veneer.
In all, this is one of the very best films of the year, and one that's an absolute joy to watch. If you're a fan of Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Innaratu or film, this is a can't-miss. It won't win best picture, but it's certainly quite the achievement.
9/10.
