Film Of The Week

Film aficionados know that if both the now recently retired At The Movies hosts, David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz, give a film five stars then it’s probably worth checking out. With Birdman, they were definitely on the money.

Mexican writer/director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, has brought us some fascinating and edgy films – Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Biutiful – and now he’s cemented his reputation for being a very exciting filmmaker with Birdman. A favourite to take out a Golden Globe Award for Best Musical or Comedy, it was pipped at the post by the worthy Grand Budapest Hotel but still won Best Screenplay and Best Actor for Michael Keaton.

Speaking of Keaton, the former Batman and star of countless ‘90s comedies will no doubt enjoy a resurrection of his currently more modest career, with the character of Riggan – a former super hero actor of a franchise known as Birdman – partly echoing his own fortunes. Riggan wants to do some serious acting in something that matters, and the story set almost entirely in a New York theatre, is in the few days leading up to opening night of a stage adaptation of a Raymond Carver story that Riggan has written and is starring in. 

We already know from the strange opening scene – where Riggan appears to be levitating while wearing just his undies as he hears a weird voice in his head – that this is going to be an unusual ride. From there the constant, unnerving percussive soundtrack makes sure the tension is high as Riggan battles with his own disturbed ego, his recently rehabilitated drug addict daughter (Emma Stone), his co-stars (Naomi Watt and Andrea Riseborough), and his harried producer (Zach Galifianakis). 

As if Riggan isn’t panicked enough about the upcoming opening night that could make or break him, the lead male actor has an accident and has to pull out. In comes the great but very difficult thespian, Mike, played brilliantly by the reliable Edward Norton. Mike manages to get up Riggan’s nose in all sorts of ways while also impressing him with his genius, but will they get to opening night without the ever-mounting disasters stopping it all from going ahead? 

Birdman is one of those rare cinematic experiences these days that actually surprises and excites you as you stay transfixed on the action and marvel at the craft behind it. A five-star movie? It’s very close.

by Vicki Englund