STORY STUDY - MEDIUM: FILM - “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)”

It’s hard enough trying to make entertainment, be it a film, series, animation, play, video game, book, paintings, and so on. From time to time, there are terrible days when you’re trying to accomplish whatever daily task that needs to be done, but an accident happens, or a co-worker decided to be unprofessional that day. It’s especially tough when a voice in your head won’t shut up about how much of a failure you are.

Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and written by Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr. & Armando Bo, Birdman is the story of Riggan Thompson, an actor who, 20 years ago, played a superhero named Birdman in a trilogy of highly successful films. In the present day, he is directing, acting, and producing a Broadway play based on the Raymond Carver short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”, which he also wrote the script for.

Some of the obstacles he goes through include a replacement actor who is very talented, but very erratic and unprofessional during previews, and trying to reconnect with his daughter, a recovering drug addict.

All while this is happening, Riggan hears the voice of Birdman, who keeps taunting him that the play is and will be a failure, and that he should go back to playing Birdman again, since that’s what made him successful and a somebody.

He also displays telekinesis and levitation, presumably skills that the Birdman character had. However, it’s clear that it’s are all in Riggan’s head, since no one ever sees him use these abilities.

The film takes place mostly within the theater where the play is being staged, from the stage, the dressing rooms, to the rooftop. While the story is not played out in real-time, it is filmed as if it was seamlessly shot in one take. You will be able to notice the transitions if you’re trying to find them. Either way, it’s impressive, and fascinating to see when executed properly.

All the actors give it their all to bring their characters to life. Michael Keaton, who was nominated for an Oscar for this film, also performs the Birdman voice that he hears and argues with throughout the film, which is reminiscent to the Christian Bale Batman voice.

Birdman explores on what makes a true artist. Anyone who creates a product for people to consume has their share of critics, either praising or criticizing their hard work. This is represented with a theater critic character who doesn’t try to hide her disrespect for Riggan. Throughout the film, Riggan is trying to prove that he is much more than just a superhero/blockbuster actor, and that he’s capable of true art.

I found out about the film when I was keeping track of what films were nominated for the 87th Academy Awards. When I found out it was about actors putting on a play, a topic I love watching, it suddenly became my most anticipated film to watch among the nominees that year. While it is considered a black comedy, a genre I despise, Birdman focused more on surreal situations and legitimate tragedy rather than people dying to get a laugh.

Despite looking like an avant-garde or experimental film, Birdman is a very straightforward story about putting on a play, and the difficulties it takes to do so because of clashing egos. Comedic moments happen, but ultimately, if you’re engaged with every character’s story and the fantasy element of the Birdman character, there’s nothing to be confused about.

Lift off the ground, and check it out.

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