Hello folks, long time no see you... Ok, Who am I fooling? I've never seen any one around. Maybe I should write more often instead of once a year when I feel like...
Anyways, let's go straight to the point here. Michael Keaton, the hero of my childhood and one of the two reasons that brought me to the movies tonight, was casted as the main protagonist since more than 2 decades in the fridge (Like we use to say here in Brazil). Actually one can claim he just took a role in the fairly recent Robocop reboot (Nice movie btw) and played some comedies from the 90's through the 2000's, and even made some dubs for disney animations. But let's be honest, the guy was strayed by Hollywood for a good time. Since Batman Returns nothing that matched his talent was given to him. In a matter of fact when watching Birdman and knowing Michael Keaton's' career you come to think he wrote the whole thing, when actually he was just casted this time. Birdman, though, is a clear reference to the old hero movies from the 90's which comes down to Tim Burton's Batman due to the lack of technology and creativity back then.
So why do I think Michael Keaton is so perfect for the role? Well let's spoil a little of the movie synopses. Riggan is a former hollywood actor who has played the super hero Birdman in the blockbuster homonymous super hero hit from the 90's just as Keaton did in Batman. Now, more than 20 years later, he is working on a Broadway play as the writer, director and main character. He wants to make something relevant before ending his career and, more than that, he wants to be recognized. Just as his character in the play, that just wants to be loved by his wife. The Broadway play is like a disturbed version of the already messed up life of Riggan, a forgotten actor that wants to make it up for all those years in the oblivion and also for only be remembered as a superhero in a 90's blockbuster. Even though I'm not familiar with Keaton's private life and I'm not really feeling like researching it, the coincidences are interesting. I also didn't read any review so far to let my review as more authentic as possible. The bottom line is, the movie itself feels like a redemption attempt from Keaton for all those years in the oblivion and for just being remembered as Batman just as the play Riggan is producing and playing is for the character.
Riggan also has a marriage that didn't work out and a problematic daughter (Emma Stone aka Gwen Stacy, The second reason that brought me to this film in case you wondered) and a bunch of cliches that comes out from it. The film is not an easy one to understand. You have to be a little familiar with the fucked up behind the scene life of celebrities to grasp some of the madness and the end is open but it gives a anti climax effect that is not good for the piece. In any case I'm not an specialist and I'm open for comments. I would give this piece a 7 out of 10. What do you guys think?
