2014
Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
We now come to perhaps the most pretentious film on the entire List. It's a big claim and in the comments section you will probably prove me wrong. But come on. Deal with that title for a moment.
Riggan Thomson is an actor famous for portraying Birdman, an iconic superhero. He decides to reinvent himself by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway play based on a Raymond Carver short story. Riggan's daughter, Sam, a recovering drug addict, works as his assistant. He frequently clashes with Mike Shiner, his method actor costar. Oh yeah, and he is kind of going insane.
Basically, this film just rubbed me the wrong way. I get that it was supposed to be a homage to Godard, but did Godard ever seem this affected and self-indulgent? If he did, I don't remember. Even the in-joke that St. James' theatre being crummy, when it is actually a really nice venue (get it? How droll) prove that this film was not meant to be accessible to the average movie-goer.
I did enjoy a few scenes; I thought Edward Norton and Emma Stone had great chemistry. But overall, I thought this movie was too snobby, even for me.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
Contains only sixteen visible cuts.
The ending apparently came to the director in a dream. I'm going to throw my neck out if they keep making me roll my eyes this hard.
