“Birdman”- A Satire on the Modern Film Industry

It’s hard to find a movie with real heart and soul in today’s times, amid all the action packed thrillers that gross billions of dollars. Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance tells the story of washed up actor Riggan Thomson, known for portraying iconic superhero Birdman. After his days of playing the superhero, Riggan decides to revitalize his career by writing, directing, and starring in his own Broadway adaption of Raymond Carver’s short story collection What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.

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One of the most extraordinary things about Birdman is how it was filmed. The movie is presented in what appears to be one continuous take. The camera follows characters from room to room, branching off to follow new characters when they enter the shot. The movie was not actually filmed in one take; it is actually made up of many seven to ten minute takes, and thanks to digital coloring and other technological effects, a seemingly one-take film is created. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and director Iñárritu worked together to achieve a ground breaking effect, making the film standout not only for its content but for its structure.

All three main actors in this movie are nominated for Academy Awards: Michael Keaton for Best Actor, Edward Norton for Best Supporting Actor, and Emma Stone for Best Supporting Actress. Michael Keaton has not garnered much critical acclaim in quite some time. Keaton himself is known for playing Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman in Tim Burton’s movie adaptions of the comic book superhero, which is why he is the perfect choice to play the lead in this movie. There is no doubt in my mind that Keaton was channeling his own inner demons and issues, as he plays the character of Riggan. Edward Norton is no stranger to the award shows, having been previously nominated for an Oscar. However, he puts on a great performance as actor Mike Shiner, who is only confident when in character, and struggles to find himself in real life. Earning her first nomination, Emma Stone puts real heart into her character Sam, Riggan’s recovering drug addict daughter, who grew up without her father ever being around. Tackling another serious role, Stone displays all the hurt that her character endured. She delivers one of the best and most powerful tangents on why her father is not more important than any one else in the world, just because he is a celebrity.

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With that said, this movie is a satire, and it says a lot about the modern film industry. The main reason why Riggan is putting on this Broadway play is so that people begin to remember him for something other than the superhero he played for three movies. It is also clear that he wishes not to be forgotten by the world, that his legacy thrives instead of fades away. He wants to matter, just like the rest of us. This movie dives deep into the psychology of actors, not just with Keaton’s character, but Norton’s character Mike as well. Mike struggles in his day to day life, for he is more comfortable in character than being himself. It is hard to exist as your own person when half the time you are pretending to be another person. This movie shows that being a celebrity is not all its cracked up to be. Aside from that, it depicts how true art is hard to come by in the the film industry these days. Films are centered around action, explosions, and superhero movies such as the Marvel ones. The industry has evolved from what it used to be, now taken over by choppy dialogue and things blowing up. Birdman both calls out the industry on its flaws and its emptiness, and simultaneously presents a story with real themes and meaning, that reminds movie goers what a “good” movie truly is.