See it at the Movies

BIRDMAN

Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 11/5/14

* * * ½

(Offbeat character study)

If you like your movies a bit offbeat, catch “Birdman,” the story of a washed up movie actor trying to make a comeback on the Broadway stage.

Michael …

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See it at the Movies

BIRDMAN

Posted

* * * ½

(Offbeat character study)

If you like your movies a bit offbeat, catch “Birdman,” the story of a washed up movie actor trying to make a comeback on the Broadway stage.

Michael Keaton stars as Riggan Thomson, a movie star who made his mark by playing an action hero named Birdman. Riggan has gone off the deep end, believing he can levitate himself and objects and listening to the voice of Birdman challenging and berating him.

What to do? Why not produce, direct and star in a Broadway play based on a story by Raymond Carver.

Riggan is delusional, believing his stardom of the past can propel him to further stardom with this play. He hires Broadway star Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) to appear with him, setting up conflict both on stage and off.

Meanwhile, Riggan has to deal with his own delusional demons and those of his junkie daughter (Emma Stone). We get a great backstage look at a play being developed, changing things during previews and finally opening. Some of the rehearsal scenes are a bit tedious, but so is Riggan. Egos get in the way as we wonder how much of the story is fiction and how much really happens in Broadway theatre.

And is some of this actually based on Keaton’s career?

There’s a great scene as Riggan confronts a Broadway theatre critic in a bar and a few more as he stands on the roof of the theatre building contemplating his future.

This offbeat movie will give you a new perspective on “stars” and their twisted minds. Rated R, with profanity and sex.

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