DC Star Takes On A Bold New Identity In Hulu Best Picture Winner

For those who missed Birdman upon release, or those simply in desperate need of a rewatch, the film is currently streaming on Hulu. Just in case you aren’t familiar with the hype surrounding this four-time Oscar Award winner, the film first attracted a ton of attention for its unique visual flair, as it’s presented to appear as though the entire movie was created with a few extremely long, unbroken shots. Of course, this was achieved primarily using camera tricks, VFX, and sleight of hand, though the presentation still holds up excellently to this very day, a decade after the initial release.

The narrative of Birdman follows Riggan Thomson, a washed-up actor most famous for having portrayed a winged superhero named Birdman in a campy film trilogy from the late 80s through the early 90s.

Thomson is portrayed in the film by Michael Keaton, who famously portrayed a winged superhero named Batman in a pair of campy movies from the late 80s to the early 90s. Despite audiences far and wide loving Thomson’s work, he is haunted by his lack of artistic success, and frequently hears his own voice as the character of Birdman berating him as he searches for clarity with meditation.

In a desperate attempt to prove to critics that he is more than just a one-trick Birdman, Thomson stages a Broadway adaptation of “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver.

In the 24 hours leading up to the play’s opening night, Thomson encounters numerous issues, including frustrating method actors, shoddy stage dressing, and a myriad of prying eyes from the obnoxious public. All the while, the film’s break-neck pace and unbroken camera movements make the entire experience feel like it’s unfolding in real time, providing something of a stage play to the audience at home.

Michael Keaton is joined in the cast by a host of incredibly talented performers, including Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Andrea Riseborough, and The Office‘s Amy Ryan.

While the performances in Birdman are top-tier, the real star of the show is the camera work, as well as the spectacular drum-forward original score. Thanks to Birdman‘s exceptionally artsy presentation, the script underwent development for an abnormally long amount of time, though shooting and editing were said to have been completed in only two months, since the long takes and locked-in script were so well established.

REVIEW SCORE

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a personal favorite of mine, and I’m always happy to rewatch the film and show it to anyone who hasn’t yet had the pleasure of checking it out. As stated, the film has received critical acclaim with a wide array of Academy Awards, and a 91 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Those interested in watching Birdman today can stream the film on Hulu.