Birdman or ( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 2015 Review

Birdman is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and is also written by him. The film stars many great names but the main star is Michael Keaton who plays Riggan Thomson, an actor who once played a superhero named Birdman, and Riggan hasn't shaken that role off, so he tries to reinvents his career by writing, directing and starring in a theatre play.

That is just one story of many in this brilliantly directed, edited and acted film. Birdman is about acting, and what it means, Is it about Blockbusters? Or is it about recognition? The film also talks about critics and who they really are, why they do their jobs, and Birdman deals with relationships. Which was all great to watch because I learnt what it feels to be an actor, the hard work they go through and sometimes because of that hard work, the loss they go through to become the best, not a one trick pony.

This is why Michael Keaton was the perfect cast, he is a man known as Batman, a title he hasn't shaken off until now. His performance was a master class, he looked like a man who knew this role from personal experience. I personally know him as the guy who played Batman but now I’m going to remember as the guy who played Birdman, which is quite ironic because in the film his character is obsessed to take away that title but now in real life Michael Keaton will be known as Birdman, which is the biggest praise for his performance. Another actor I have to give great credit to, is Edward Norton, he took the limelight away from Michael Keaton, because he was an interesting character. Edward Norton played Mike Shiner, another actor but what was different with Edward Norton was that his character feels like he has to fake his personality in real life, but when acting, that’s when the real him appears. This made him unpredictable and fun to watch. He stole every scene he was in and he deserves an Oscar nod for that performance. Every performance was superb, there was no weak character or bad acting.

The film is edited in a way that it feels like one long shot which enhances the film, because there’s no cut your eyes can never leave the screen in fear of missing anything. Normally when watching a film and the film cuts to another scene you would normally look away to sip your drink while the scene builds up again, in this film you cannot afford to do that because there is not an opportunity to take that 5 second sip. The editing keeps the eyes glued to the screen.

A great film needs a great score and this film had a genius score, why? It was basically drums playing, which for me represented heart beats because whenever something big was going to happen that will make your heart beat faster or whenever your heart will normally beat faster and more furiously, the drums played creating the vibe of film and the vibe of the characters.

Birdman will make you want to watch the film again, to learn more about it. I was engrossed, never took my eyes off the screen and with the editing that made it possible, the score puts you in the film feeling what the character feels. Great film and Birdman earns 9/10