Birdman

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), commonly known simply as Birdman, is a 2014 American black comedy superhero film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. It was written by Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo. The film stars Michael Keaton with a supporting cast of Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts.

Plot
Former cinema superhero Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) is mounting an ambitious Broadway production that he hopes will breathe new life into his stagnant career. It's risky, but he hopes that his creative gamble will prove that he's a real artist and not just a washed-up movie star. As opening night approaches, a castmate is injured, forcing Riggan to hire an actor (Edward Norton) who is guaranteed to shake things up. Meanwhile, Riggan must deal with his girlfriend, daughter and ex-wife.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) The film's plot is a parody of superhero films, especially Batman.
 * 2) Antonio Sánchez's musical score is awesome.
 * 3) Two outstanding performances from Michael Keaton (who has played Batman, which the film is parodying) and Edward Norton.
 * 4) Benjamin Kanes does a good job portraying a younger Michael Keaton lookalike as Birdman.
 * 5) The film covers the period of previews leading to the play's opening, and with a brief exception appears as if filmed in a single shot, an idea director Iñárritu had from the film's conception.
 * 6) Very rare and amazing direction of Alejandro G. Iñárritu.
 * 7) Memorable quotes, like "That's what I'm talking about. Bones rattling! Big, loud, fast! Look at these people, at their eyes... they're sparkling."
 * 8) The film is a deep character study of Riggan Thomson played by a moving and stellar Michael Keaton a once-time big movie star struggling to regain importance.
 * 9) Very hilarious humour that it works.

Bad Qualities

 * 1) While the acting is top notch and the camera work, the writing portrayed seriously lacks some punch.

Reception
Birdman received critical acclaim, with praise for the performances of the cast (particularly those of Keaton, Stone, and Norton), cinematography, Iñárritu's direction and screenplay. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91%, based on 351 reviews, and an average rating of 8.50/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "A thrilling leap forward for director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Birdman is an ambitious technical showcase powered by a layered story and outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton." On Metacritic, the film received a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 58 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.