Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.

Director:

Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Writers:

Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton

Won 4 Oscars. Another 191 wins & 280 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Riggan
Emma Stone	...	Sam
Kenny Chin	...	Korean Grocer
Jamahl Garrison-Lowe	...	Stagehand (Daniel)
Zach Galifianakis	...	Jake
Naomi Watts	...	Lesley
Jeremy Shamos	...	Ralph
Andrea Riseborough	...	Laura
Katherine O'Sullivan	...	Costume Assistant
Damian Young	...	Gabriel
Keenan Shimizu	...	Han
Akira Ito	...	Translator
Natalie Gold	...	Clara
Merritt Wever	...	Annie
Edward Norton	...	Mike

Storyline

Actor Riggan Thomson is most famous for his movie role from over twenty years ago of the comic book superhero Birdman in the blockbuster movie of the same name and its two equally popular sequels. His association with the role took over his life, where Birdman is more renowned than "Riggan Thomson" the actor. Now past middle age, Riggan is trying to establish himself as a true artist by writing, directing, starring in and co-producing with his best friend Jake what is his Broadway debut, an adaptation of Raymond Carver's story, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. He is staking his name, what little artistic reputation that comes with that name and his life savings on the project, and as such will do anything needed to make the play a success. As he and Jake go through the process of the previews toward opening night, Riggan runs into several issues: needing to find a replacement for the integral supporting male role the night before the first preview; hiring the talented ...

---

Plot Keywords:

actor | showbiz | inner voice | acting career | emotional instability | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, some sexual content and brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States] Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$424,397, 19 October 2014

Gross USA:

$42,340,598

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$103,215,094

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Regency Pictures, M Productions, Grisbi Productions, Le

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Fittingly, given this movie's setting and subject matter, many of the secondary roles or bit parts are played by people who, in their real lives, have accomplished Broadway careers. Jeremy Shamos (Ralph, who Riggan thinks is a terrible actor) was in seven Broadway shows between 2004 and 2016, and was nominated for a Tony in 2012. William Youmans (Bartender Tommy) was in the Broadway casts of Wicked, Big River, Finian's Rainbow, and Bright Star, among many other shows (and he is also a relative of the great Broadway Composer Vincent Youmans, who was name-checked in Cole Porter's classic song "You're the Top"). Lindsay Duncan (Tabitha, the jaded critic) has been in four Broadway plays, including the production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses that first introduced Alan Rickman to American audiences. Donna Lynne Champlin (Broadway Lady) has performed in such Broadway musicals as Sweeney Todd, Billy Elliot, and By Jeeves. Roberta Colindrez (Broadway Woman on Street) played Joan in the original Broadway cast of Fun Home. Jackie Hoffman (Lady on Balcony (Mary)) has appeared in such Broadway musicals as On the Town, The Addams Family, Xanadu, and Hairspray. Bill Camp (Crazy Man) has been in seven Broadway plays between 1993 and 2016. Michael Siberry (Larry) has appeared in eight Broadway plays and musicals from 1986 on, including leads in productions of The Sound of Music, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and Spamalot. Stephen Adly Guirgis (Good Neighbor) is an accomplished playwright whose plays include Jesus Hopped the A Train, Our Lady of 121st Street, The Motherfucker with the Hat, and Between Riverside and Crazy (winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama).

---

Goofs

In the very beginning of the movie, Riggan is called on to the stage for rehearsal where he "does" his job and returns to his room and the audience see the TV switched on mysteriously which wasn't the case before.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Young Birdman: How did we end up here? This place is horrible. Smells like balls. We don't belong here.

---

Alternate Versions

Sundance TV recently released an edited version which removes the swearing and zooms in the scene it shows Edward Norton's butt so it is not shown.

---

Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Josh Brolin/Martin O'Malley/Judd Winick/Abe Laboriel Jr. (2015)

---

Soundtracks

Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36.2 in Andantino in Modo Di Canzone
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by RSO Ljubijana Anton Nanut
Courtesy of The Savoy Label Group/Selectracks

User Reviews

Nice counterbalance/complaint against the superhero movies

This movie is widely criticized here because of its supposed lack of story. Indeed, if you've got your head stuck in the a** of the superhero movies and cellphone culture that Iñarritu is vehemently complaining against with this movie, it's got a definite lack of action. But, if you can appreciate a bit more subtlety and have some patience, can tie up some of the loose ends by yourself instead of having everything spelled out for you, then you'll see this movie is a nice little puzzle. It shows an actor that is depressed, passed his high days, going insane- some of the scenes really blur the line between reality and the main character's imagination. Definitely not an easy watch, but both the story, camera-work and acting have been worked out in detail really well- however none provide the viewer with everything on a silver platter. Watch if you're in a mood to think, not if you want an easy cheesy comedy.