“Birdman” Takes Audiences on a Wild Flight

Despite winning multiple Academy Awards, the sheer existence of “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” wasn’t a known fact to everyone, which isn’t all that surprising if you think about it.

The latest film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu is far from a sound example of mainstream cinema, as videnced by the fact that it began with a shot of Michael Keaton floating in his tighty-whiteys. On top of this, the film’s marketing campaign appeared to rely more on positive word of mouth than elaborate advertising, so its under-the-radar status is understandable.

The real question when it comes to “Birdman” is whether or not it stays true to the hype that was bestowed upon it by both critics and audiences. The answer: it does without effort, proving that its Best Picture win was everything but a fluke.

“Birdman” can be most accurately described as a two hour fugue state, putting the audience within the fragile mindset of a man whose own ego is engaging him in fierce psychological warfare. We follow him as he struggles to put on a Broadway play as a last-ditch effort to prove he isn’t an irrelevant, washed-up actor not only to everyone around him, but most importantly, to himself.

The entire movie boasts a self-referential vibe throughout, as it offers commentary on the film industry, the pitfalls of success and even Keaton’s own career, as both he and his character Riggan portrayed superheroes at the peaks of their respective popularity.

“Birdman” has its funny moments, along with its darker ones to counteract, but the true framework of the movie relies on its ability to make the audience re-evaluate their psyches once the credits begin to roll.

Everything from the uninterrupted camera sequences to the frenetic, free-form drumming that accompanies many of the scenes drips with insanity, but in the best possible way. By the time it’s all over, your heart will be pumping, excitement will flow through your veins and you’ll be asking for more, while feeling completely satisfied at the same time.

If you weren’t aware of “Birdman” until recently and still don’t know much about it, keep it that way until you decide to see it. The less you know, the more you’ll realize that sometimes ignorance does have its virtues.