Movie Review: “Birdman”
As Oscar nominations roll in and the buzz begins to build, one movie stands above the rest. “Birdman” has garnered incredible critical acclaim and has received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Screenplay.
When I sat down to watch “Birdman,” I had seen only one trailer. That short glimpse of the film lead me to believe that it was going to be a pseudo-intellectual, existential movie about a troubled actor’s struggle with himself. I was wrong. Totally, utterly and completely wrong. With a fantastic and dynamic soundtrack, this movie grabs you from the start and refuses to let you go until the credits roll.
Although its score was disqualified from the Oscars, that does not make it any less amazing. Filled with intense percussion and beautiful classical tracks, the soundtrack frames the film nicely and communicates the mood of the scenes in a way that is somehow convincing but not overbearing.
“Birdman” tells the story of a struggling former A-List actor Riggan Thompson, played by Michael Keaton, who attempts to put on a stage adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story. After his lead actor is injured, he hires the talented but volatile Mike Shiner, played by Edward Norton. The film follows their efforts to put on the play, and the relationship Thomson has with the character he plays on stage.
Director Alejandro G. Inarritu has received immense praise for his work on this project, and deservedly so. Inarritu has been nominated for an Oscar six times previously, but this year will no doubt hold the best chances for his first win. With a fantastic cast behind his movie and some amazing cinematography, Inarritu’s odds are looking good.
“Birdman,” initially predicted to fall behind Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” has taken the position of front-runner for the Best Picture award after a win at the Producer’s Guild Awards. The last seven winners of the PGA Best Feature have gone on to win in the Best Picture category.
“Birdman” entrances the viewer with some of the most incredible and unique cinematography I have ever seen. In a wonderful feat of camerawork, Director of Cinematography Emmanuel Lubezki has made the film seem as if it is one constant long take. It gives the movie a distinctly theatrical quality which I greatly enjoyed. Transitions are virtually nonexistent as the camera follows the characters to wherever they are going without scene cuts.
The acting in this film is as good as it gets. With outstanding performances from Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone, this film’s cast is top notch. All of the aforementioned actors have rightly been Oscar-nominated for their roles, and I will be extremely surprised if one of them doesn’t win.
“Birdman” is definitely worth watching.