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With “Birdman,” there is, of course, a bit of meta irony going on, considering that lead character Riggan Thomson, a former Hollywood star of superhero flicks now inching toward a comeback, is played by Michael Keaton, the former star of Batman flicks whose comeback is in full swing thanks to this movie. But just as that fun fact is amusing for all of two minutes, “Birdman” is a pristinely made wellspring of shallow ideas, which fleetingly hold your interest but have no lasting weight or insight.
Taking his first crack at dark comedy, “Babel” director Alejandro González Iñárritu attempts to make a media-biz satire while simultaneously crafting a semi-autobiographical piece about the woes of inflated egos. Despite the resplendent efforts of a grand ensemble cast (which also includes Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Emma Stone and Andrea Riseborough), and the technical virtuosity of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (whose camera snakes its way through spaces with near-seamless fluidity), Iñárritu comes up pitifully short in his pursuits. It’s conceivable that his own ego blinded him to his weakness as a satirist.
Reflecting the glut of movie stars now gracing Broadway marquees, washed-up Riggan is trying to take the high-brow road to overcoming his past, which is globally known for his portrayal of the film’s fictional title character. He’s writing, directing and starring in a stage adaptation of a Raymond Carver story, but his epic self-obsession may derail the entire production. Iñárritu’s exploration of the theater world is fascinating, but dozens of backstage dramas — like “All That Jazz”— have done it better, largely because they had something novel and substantial to say.
With excessive faux prestige and cinematic bells and whistles, “Birdman” simply regurgitates the notions that art is good, commerce is bad, stars are megalomaniacs, men are pigs, viewers are gullible, social media is all-powerful and we’re all useless in the grand scheme. That brilliant, well-shot actors are the regurgitators doesn’t change the sense the meat of “Birdman” is vexingly lean. Penned by four screenwriters, including Iñárritu, the script for this supposed Oscar vehicle adds up to a whole lot of squawking.
Birdman
R
Two reels out of four
Opens tomorrow at area theaters
Recommended Rental
Child of God
R
Available Tuesday
The main attraction to this adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s novel about a redneck necrophile is that it’s directed by James Franco. But Franco’s a modestly gifted filmmaker at best — too busy dipping his toes in every medium (including social media) to crank out a decent film. See “Child of God” for the star performance from Scott Haze, who’s an astonishing, feral revelation.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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