It’s interesting because it does seem to be a love/hate movie. I won’t pretend the division is right down the middle: it’s at least 75% on the love side, but the hate side does include some respected film reviewers*
I’m on hate, I’m afraid. And I saw it before the oscars and much of the hype.
This is an example of the level of humour:
“Hey, come on, he’s not that bad an actor…”
<background drumming pauses, they look at each other for a couple seconds>
“Ok, his acting’s terrible”
<drumming resumes>
And that kind of tired attempt at humour runs throughout the movie.
I wouldn’t mind if it had a compelling story, but it didn’t: Already successful man has doubts about whether he can again be successful, this time in a way that also affords the respect of his peers. And if it fails…well there’s no reason why he couldn’t just try again.
So let’s avoid the kinds of arguments on other sites that “if you didn’t like birdman, that’s because you’re not smart enough / expected Batman Forever”
It’s definitely more drama than comedy. I laughed fairly hard at some parts, but it wasn’t a laugh-a-minute comedy.
I don’t think I was enough of a movie/theatre insider to really enjoy it. For starters, I hate live theatre - that probably makes me irritated at about half of the movie before we even get into anything else.
Yeah, more drama than comedy. Dark comedy is probably a better way to put it. The humor is more wry smiles than laugh out loud (though there are a few of those in there).
I’m in the camp that loved it. When it was done, I just though “Wow! That’s why I see movies”. The film took chances and I loved it for that.
With little else to relieve the boredom on a 12 hour flight, I watched this.
I kept waiting and waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.
Absolutely dreadful film.
Frankly, it sucked and I turned it off before the ending. Just too weird.
Two things though I found interesting;
Setting. Backstage at a Broadway theater. Its amazing how old, run down, crowded, and mazelike it all felt. Maze-like meaning the actors were constantly walking down strange narrow hallways into different rooms where things would happen.
But I did like seeing some of the technical aspects like how they do the curtains, lighting, and props.
The actors behavior. Dang, these people really do live in an alternate world unlike any real job. You wonder when they ever stop acting.
And dont people ever knock when going into someones dressing room?
Do they constantly get undressed in front of each other?
It sort of reminds me of “A Prairie Home Companion” that came out about 10 years ago showing a stage show backstage and the actors all talked about their careers.
Stage actors, like fashion show models, are conditioned for a very low sense of personal modesty. The jobs require quick costume changes, usually with help, and without privacy.
Saw it last night…enjoyed it for its uniqueness and score especialy. I was hoping that he would shoot the critic myself…what a bitch!
I didn’t notice whether the amount of blood was consistent with “just” shooting your nose off. Maybe the wig went off too…would it have been triggered by the sound?
The above is an interesting take re dieing by jellyfish…hmm.
As for the ending, if Emma Stone first say him on the ground and then imagined him flying away I think that we would have seen two dif reactions…maybe we did, I don’t recall.