Writer Jared Watson on Inarritu's BIRDMAN OR THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE (2014)

How did we end up here? This place is horrible. It smells like balls. We don't belong in this shithole. What does one do once they learn that the universe is uncaring, and life has no ultimate meaning?

Well, one can lay down and give up, accept the harsh reality and persist, or assign life your own meaning while basking in the glory of the absurd.

Alejandro González Iñárritu's brilliant dark comedy Birdman explores the bleak realities of life while also being deftly funny. Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) is a washed up actor known for playing a superhero in his past. He works to regain his dignity as he adapts Raymond Carver's short story, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love into a Broadway Play. Riggan runs into obstacles as his supporting actor (Edward Norton) is an alcoholic control freak, his daughter (Emma Stone) doesn't respect him, and the biggest critic in town (Lindsay Duncan) is determined to kill his play before it even gets off the ground. Not to mention the character he used to play, Birdman now lives in his head as his alter ego, pushing him to leave Broadway, and get back into action films. He believes that being an action hero is part of Riggan's core being.

The director of photography, Emmanuel Lubezki masterfully crafts the imagery, making the entire film look like one single seamless shot. A drum set is played throughout the film by Antonio Sánchez, which gives it a real jazzy spirit, acting almost as the heartbeat of the story.

Birdman is dark, funny, and almost tragic. Its themes are sure to resonate with anyone struggling to find the meaning in life, or who has just lost their path somewhere along the way.

What’s interesting about movies about American culture made by someone with a more distanced outsider’s perspective (Inarritu is from Mexico and is part of the “3 amigos” group of directors that includes Guillermo Del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron; all three are lifelong friends) is how they are sometimes able to put their finger on absurdities of our own culture even we’re unaware of. It’s interesting that it takes Inarritu to point out to us the ridiculousness of our veneration of spandex wearing animal mascot superheroes over the day to day struggle of real people.

Jared Watson is a moviemaker, writer, and avid cinefile. Check out his work: https://www.ridgeviewdrive.com/