Movie Review: Birdman

3.5 stars out of 5

I was very excited to see Birdman. I was really intrigued while watching Birdman. Now I’m just trying to decide how much I actually liked it.

You’ve got Michael Keaton basically playing Michael Keaton. Actor who starred in superhero movies and walked away is now struggling to be relevant. I’m a big Michael Keaton fan from way back. Night Shift, how great was that? Mr. Mom. Beetlejuice! Tim Burton’s Batman, the last time I enjoyed that character. So, I’m very glad to see Keaton back as the lead in the movie and he does great work here in a very challenging role.

But did I like it? I did. But how much? Not sure.

You’ve got a lot going on here, and yet, not all that much.

Hollywood vs. Theater. (The reliably great Edward Norton does a fine job representing “Theater.”)
Real life (winningly portrayed by good ol’ Amy Ryan) vs. Drama.
Youth (dependably good Emma Stone) vs. Age.
Money (a slimmed down, bad-glasses-wearing Zach Galifianakis) vs. Art.

And it’s all wrapped in an art-film take on Andy Hardy’s “Let’s put on a show!”

Oh boy is it arty. I’m not that familiar with director Alejandro González Iñárritu. I saw 21 Grams a million years ago and liked it, didn’t love it. This one, it’s cool and weird and often funny. And a lot of drums. It’s presented much more like a play than a movie. You’re quickly thinking “I’m not supposed to take this literally.” Maybe in college I would’ve thought this is the best movie ever?

Scenes are long and move from set to set, picking up and dropping off characters along the way, reminiscent of that classic Goodfellas tracking shot or maybe the walk-and-talks from West Wing except I never saw that show, or the Saturday Night Live monologues where they suddenly go backstage. It’s cool if a little exhausting.

Actually, the whole movie is a little exhausting. We’re pulling for Keaton but, I felt my sympathy slipping away by the end. Enough already, you know? It’s two hours long but starts to feel longer. I feel like Iñárritu and his three (!) fellow screenwriters couldn’t quite land what they had set up.

Anyway. Michael Keaton is back, and that is a good thing. Maybe somebody could cast him in a smart comedy? Thank you.