By: Isael Diaz
Michael Keaton, predominantly well known for his iconic role in the film Batman (1989), finds himself in a role a bit to unusual from what others typically recognize him as in his career as an Hollywood actor. Keaton trades in his iconic persona that made him huge way back then, to a new challenge that lies ahead of head of him, that can either make him into something new or break him. Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Michael Keaton is taking his talents outside the big screen and will embark on a new journey filled with ups and downs as he goes out with the old and in with the new. Birdman is a type of film that I’d never seen before in a film at all. The incorporation of multiple genres has been seen in tons of films past and present, however this film’s incorporations of the multiple genres is fantastic especially how well it can move from another without little to any conflict at all. The film tends to know when and how to switch from the different genres throughout the course of the film. At points in the film there is dose of humor, seriousness, and mental pain and agony all wrapped into one creating a unique one of a kind film that is rare to see in films now a days. Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a typical washed up Hollywood star that was once a big in the eyes of many for his predominate role as Birdman in the superhero’s film trilogy many years ago. Riggan’s day’s in the bird costume are over as, he has one last chance to prove to himself despite his obvious downfall that he can still be a great actor even though he is doing something that isn’t quite familiar with. Some time ago, Riggan received a note from honored writer Raymond Carver who, gave Riggan a compliment based on his abilities as a performer. This moment was very inspiring for Riggan he decided pay homage to Mr. Carver by adapting his story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” onto the stage. It appears that Riggan has devoted tons of time, money and his entire life to making this play into to something special for him. Could this be Riggan’s moment in time to find success elsewhere and completely ditch the Birdman persona? Success isn’t built overnight, it takes time and surely Riggan was very aware of that. As opening night for Riggan’s play is slowly approaching one of the cast members of the play ends up injured by a light fixture falling down onto Riggan’s cast member. This unfortunate accident makes Riggan hire a new actor to replace the injured one Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), who is affirmed to shake things up with Riggan’s play. In the meantime aside from his play, Riggan has to deal with his girlfriend Laura Auldburn (Andrea Riseborough) his estranged ex-wife Sylvia Thomson (Amy Ryan) snotty film critic Tabitha Dickinson (Lindsay Duncan), Birdman (his visualized younger self) , and of course his daughter Sam Thomson (Emma Stone). The director of Birdman, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu deserves tons of praise for truly making a one of a kind film that many of us have yet to seen before, as to what made this film so great and glorious is how the film was the one take aesthetic and its overall impact on the film. The film shot in one take made everything go on in the film look fast, which in result made what the audience was watching very elaborate and stunning; grabbing the audience’s attention. The use of the one take shot is what truly sets Birdman apart from other films. Including conflict for Riggan with his former persona Birdman, was great for the overall plot of the film because how well Riggan’s character was able to deal with him in his mental fantasy despite having to deal with others in real time. Constantly there is presented conflict with Riggan and his former persona usually seen when others aren’t around Riggan. The Birdman persona tends to get in the way in what Riggan hopes and aspires with his new dream that he intends to pursue by being very critical of his new dream and giving his a bit of a reminder of the glory days that he once had many years ago, but ultimately it's all in the past now. Birdman gets the notion that Riggan being a Hollywood Star isn’t even comparison to him now being a Broadway Actor. Birdman doesn’t appreciate that Riggan abandoned completely, finding a new life that doesn’t involve the one that once made him a star a quite long time ago. In brief, There are a tons of things are happening in Birdman. A former star who seems to be on the decline, getting rid of the old and bringing in the new. The critical criticism of the those in the Hollywood industry vs those in the Broadway industry. The themes of redemption and family struggles as demonstrated with struggles with Riggan’s new second new pursued life and struggled father daughter relationship between Riggan and his daughter Sam. The inclusion of magical realism that causes the audience to distinguish between what is real and what is fantasy in the course of the film. Before watching this film, I had no idea who was Michael Keaton or the others in the film, however I am sure to check of others films that they have been in. People tend to associate Michael Keaton as Batman, but I’ll associate Mr. Keaton as Birdman, who knows maybe actually Keaton sometime during his career as an actor will get a chance to be Birdman in a superhero film in the near future. We just have to wait and see.
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