Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a black comedy that tells the story of an actor Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) – famous for portraying an iconic superhero – as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.

Non-stop Favorable Comment 

Birdman was the opening film of the 71st Venice International Film Festival, where it premiered on August 27, 2014 in competition for the Golden Lion.

Birdman received critical acclaim, and was named one of the best films of 2014 by organizations including the AFI and the National Board of Review. It was nominated for seven Golden Globe Awards at the 72nd ceremony, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or comedy, Best Director, Best Score and won for Best Screenplay. Keaton won Best Actor, while Norton and Stone were nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively at both the Golden Globe Awards and the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, where the cast is also nominated for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture. At the 87th Academy Awards, Birdman received nine nominations, the joint most for the ceremony (along with The Grand Budapest Hotel), including Best Picture, Best Director, and acting nominations for Keaton, Norton and Stone.

Synopsis 

Riggan Thomson (Michal Keaton) is a washed-up Hollywood actor famous for playing the superhero Birdman in blockbuster movies decades earlier. Riggan is tormented by the voice of Birdman, who criticizes him, and he imagines himself performing feats of leviation and telekinesis.

Riggan hopes to reinvent his failing career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”. The play is produced by Riggan's best friend and lawyer Jake (Zach Galifianakis), and also stars Riggan's girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough) and first-time Broadway actress Lesley (Naomi Watts). Riggan's daughter Sam (Emma Stone), a recovering addict, serves as his assistant.

During rehearsals, a light falls onto Ralph, an actor Riggan does not like; Riggan tells Jake he caused the light to fall so he could replace Ralph. Riggan replaces Ralph with the brilliant but volatile method actor Mike (Edward Norton). During a preview, Riggan performs the final scene from the play, in which his character laments "not existing" and shoots himself. Afterwards, Mike tells Riggan he needs to find a more realistic prop gun.

Riggan reads early reviews and is incensed that Mike has stolen the attention. When Riggan catches Sam using pot, they get into an argument and she tells him that he does not matter. Backstage during another preview, Riggan sees Sam and Mike flirting. He accidentally locks himself out of the theater and has to walk in his underwear through Times Square to get back inside the theater. Afterwards, he runs into influential critic Tabitha Dickinson, who tells him she hates "Hollywood celebrities who pretend to be actors" and promises to "kill" his play with a negative review. The next day, the hung-over Riggan hallucinates a conversation with Birdman, flying through New York City.

On opening night, Riggan uses a real gun for the final scene, and shoots his nose off on stage. He earns a standing ovation from all but Tabitha, who leaves during the applause. In the hospital, Jake tells Riggan that Tabitha gave the play a rave review. After Sam visits Riggan in his room, Riggan climbs onto the window ledge. When Sam returns, he is gone. She looks down at the street, then the sky, and smiles.

Birdman

Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Cast: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts

Running time: 119 mins