Birdman (2014)
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A fading Hollywood actor struggles to regain his relevance while grappling with the internal voice of his past superhero persona during a high-stakes Broadway production.
The story
Riggan Thomson, a faded Hollywood actor known for his role in a superhero trilogy, is haunted by the internal voice of his past persona, Birdman. As he attempts to reclaim his status in the spotlight, he takes on the monumental task of writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story. The production is fraught with tension as Riggan navigates the demands of the stage, the complexities of his personal relationships, and the intrusive demands of his inner persona. Amidst the frantic energy of rehearsals and the looming pressure of opening night, Riggan must decide how much of himself he is willing to sacrifice for the sake of the performance.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Riggan Thomson, a fading actor haunted by the internal voice of his former superhero persona, Birdman, attempts to regain his status by staging a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver story. The production is complicated by the arrival of Mike Shiner, a volatile method actor who replaces a fallen co-star. As the play faces disastrous previews and Riggan's personal life—including his strained relationship with his daughter Sam—begins to unravel, he faces a critical review from the influential Tabitha Dickinson. During the final preview, a mishap leaves Riggan stranded in his underwear in Times Square, a moment that goes viral. On opening night, the play is a success, and Riggan performs a final scene involving a firearm. He wakes up in a hospital with a reconstructed nose, having been hailed as a visionary for his 'performance.' He eventually reconciles with his inner persona before ultimately stepping out onto a ledge, leaving his daughter to find him gone, only to see him in the sky.
- Original title
- (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- First release year
- 2014
- Runtime (minutes)
- 119
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Alejandro González Iñárritu
- Writers
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu · writer; Nicolás Giacobone · writer; Alexander Dinelaris Jr. · writer; Armando Bó · writer
- Cast and characters
- Michael Keaton · Riggan Thomson; Zach Galifianakis · Jake; Edward Norton · Mike Shiner; Andrea Riseborough · Laura; Amy Ryan · Sylvia; Emma Stone · Sam; Naomi Watts · Tabitha Dickinson
- Genres
- satirical; surrealist; black comedy; drama
- Themes
- identity; transformation; art vs. commerce; father-daughter relationships; mid-life crisis
- Tone and mood
- surreal; tense; intimate
- Premise and plot tags
- one-shot; meta-fiction; showbiz satire
- Source material / true-story basis
- Raymond Carver's short story 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love'
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim for its screenplay, direction, cinematography, and performances, particularly from Keaton, Norton, and Stone.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 91% · scale: percentage · review count: 351; Metacritic · score: 87 · scale: 100 · review count: 58
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Picture · Winner; Academy Award · Best Director · Winner; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · Winner; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · Winner; Screen Actors Guild Award · Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture · Winner
- Production trivia
- The film was designed to appear as one continuous take.; The visual effects touched 90% of the frames.; The script was written by four writers in different locations via Skype and email.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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