New Regency Pictures
TSG Entertainment
Worldview Entertainment
Not part of a collection.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
How did we end up here?
A fading actor best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected.
- Original title
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $18,000,000
- Revenue
- $103,215,094
Peter McGinn
Dec 16, 2020 · via TMDB
I was drawn to watch this film for a couple of reasons. One, basically, was Michael Keaton. Overall I find movies are worth a look when he is in it. Also there is the play within a play, the stage production his character is doing, based on an actual short story by Raymond a carver. When I first started writing short stories and novels decades ago, I was influenced by Carver’s spare writing style and his realistic dialogue. I guess this particular short story has been used in a few short films also. I don’t believe this movie is in any way considered an Independent Film, but it has that feel to me, the way it clings to gritty realism and comic book fantasy all at once, the philosophical musings of most of the characters, the total lack of a defined ending, all speak to me of an independent film. I didn’t come away from watching it thinking it was a great movie, merely interesting in places and well acted. Unfortunately, I disliked most of the characters, with a few exceptions such as the discarded ex-wife/girlfriend or whatever she was. However skilled the production standards and acting might be, this movie proved to me that empathy for the characters and the quality of the writing still counts for a lot. And as a writer (of lower quality admittedly) I was relieved to realize it.
Matthew Brady
Jan 27, 2020 · via TMDB
"I'm nothing. I'm not even here." The story to Birdman is about an wash up actor (Michael Keaton) - famous for portraying an iconic superhero - as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself. Okay in my review of Whiplash I bought this movie up mid way through the review just to give a heads up of when I'm going to watch it, because Birdman was my most anticipated film of 2014. But just like every time I really wanted to see a film so baldy I have to wait for a while until I finally get a chance to watch it, story of my life really. But anywhere, I was really looking forward to this movie ever since September, and now finally seeing the film I can safely say that Birdman is one of the best movie of 2014. I always know that Micheal Keaton was the kind of movie star that will pick any random movie role just because... well he what's to be important and still show to everyone that he still got it, I guess. Early last year he was in two movies that were pretty blah, and that was The Robocop (remake) and Need for Speed, and those films just made Keaton look like he was just cashing it in just for the sake of it. Until I watched this movie and seeing Micheal Keaton's performance and thinking to myself "Wait is Keaton giving probably his best performance I've ever seen in my life? I think he is", because Keaton in this movie pretty much pulls of the best performance I've seen him in his all career. His character in this movie is like a washed up actor who had everything like: the love from the critics and he's fans. Yeah he still dose have that Keaton thing that he always dose in his previous movies, but the scenes where he plays his character (Which is himself if you really look at his character in this movie) but anywhere he still gives a strong and believable performance that at times give me flashbacks of the good old days when he still had roots and felt like he isn't just cashing it in. I hear a lot of Oscar buzz about his performance in this movie, and I wouldn't be surprise if he wins because he totally deserves it. Excellent work Keaton. Edward Norton is also in this movie and played a familiar character to himself has the hard to work with actor that at times doesn't follow the lines that he was given or even the direction he was told. We already know that Norton is a fantastic actor in his previous work, but in this movie his performance could be descried has stellar and insanely good. Emma Stone is this movie and of course like most of the actors I named off so far who were outstanding in this movie and well you can already guess what I'm going to say next. Emma Stone acting in this movie was just terrific and marvellous to watch. It's good to see a real break out performance from her more than the lay back ones in her other movies. Nice one Emma. The other cast in the movie like Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis both did good as well. The whole movie is shot to look like it's all in one shot and my mind was just blown away by that fact. There were scenes in way I said to myself "Oh my god is it one shot?", well I can already imagine the stress, hard work and how many takes they had to do to get it, and boy did it pay off nicely, because I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. I dared myself to look away from the beautiful cinematography and the impressive editing used in the film. The movie has a brilliant message about film critics today that doesn't feel like it's in your face message that you normally get in movies. There's a scene in this movie and by the way it's not a spoiler, but I really need to get this out the way first. Micheal Keaton character starts having a rant over this theater critic who is going to give a bad review to he's play when she hasn't even seen it or any of the premieres. He talks about how she only users big words that nobody will say in person and shes to lazy to come up what she really thinks about it so she users big words just to fill in the sentence. This movie probably has the best rant in movie history and Keaton in that scene shows how good of a actor that he is. For problems in the movie: I really don't have any to be honest. I loved this movie and yes I'm coming out be saying that. This isn't just the best movie of the year and such, no this is just flawless film making right here. Birdman and Whiplash are the two films I will highly recommend to people, because those two films are my favorite films of 2014.
mattwilde123
Mar 9, 2017 · via TMDB
This film tells the story of an over-the-hill actor called Riggan Thomson (brilliantly portrayed by Michael Keaton) who was once the star of a superhero blockbuster franchise known as 'Birdman'. We are shown his journey into making a Broadway production starting with the initial rehearsals and read-throughs. What follows is a brilliant exploration of celebrity culture in an intriguing and satirical way. 'Birdman' could essentially be looked at as one continuous long shot. The camera constantly weaves around the actors and action and so the audience are completely immersed into the perspectives of the various characters (mostly Riggan's). The opening shot plays like a scene in Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Boogie Nights' as it delightfully establishes the narrative in a fluid and polished style whilst introducing the cast and their entertaining interchanges during a rehearsal with hilarious consequences. The editing throughout the picture is almost flawless when moving from scene to scene and has a dizzying effect much like Gasper Noé's 'Irreversible'. 'Birdman' also boasts some marvellous special effects throughout such as when Riggan (Keaton) is alone and being taunted by his egotistical alter-ego. The film shows up typical blockbuster action movies by asking the audience what they want and giving it to them in a manner which embraces the excitement and epic-ness of the genre whilst also poking fun of the conventions. The music that accompanies the film is very scarce in a lot of places adding emphasis to the dialogue and situations arising but, in some cases, an erratic and improvisational drum riff can be heard (occasionally accompanied with the drummer on the set) which completely adds to the eccentricity and spontaneity of the movie. The screenplay is very intricately written and contains many profound philosophical speeches about art, celebrity and criticism. There are monologues and debates by characters in which they discuss the core beliefs of the film such as Riggan's speech during his performance of his Raymond Carver play "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The whole narrative of the film is very intriguing and interesting. There is a perfect blend of comedy and poignancy. There are a lot of twists and ambiguity throughout the film which could be analysed and interpreted for a long time. Michael Keaton is fantastic as the protagonist and gives a performance that would have given his career a huge revival (his squeal is my highlight of the film). The parallels with the character's career and that of Keaton's could not have been a mistake and gives the performance that much more edge. Edward Norton plays the method actor from hell (Mike Shiner). He is annoying, snobbish and smug and played brilliantly by Norton who excels in the vileness and pomposity of the character. The film is very much about actors. The self obsessive nature of acting is definitely highlighted by the two central performances but there is also a cast that really help to deliver the film's meaning such as Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough and Naomi Watts. Overall, 'Birdman' is a fantastic film. It is filled with pathos and profound imagery whilst keeping the viewer thoroughly entertained throughout. ★★★★½
Dean
Jun 9, 2016 · via TMDB
First of all, let me say, I like most of movies where Naomi Watts plays & thought this one would be good too, after all it has high ratings, but don't be fooled by famous actors which play in this movie. Don't be fooled & think that movie is good. No, not at all. This movie is complete junk. It supposed to be a comedy, but I didn't even find it funny. It's just like a big mess. I started watching it & I couldn't last longer than 30 minutes, it was so boring & uninteresting that I fell asleep. I can't believe people rate this movie so high & even worse - this movie won an Oscar. This again proves, that ratings & Oscar ain't always accurate.
tmdb39513728
Feb 4, 2015 · via TMDB
**mounting spontaneity** or (dumb luck) It's not fair. I love Raymond Carver, long takes, theatre, Batman, NYC rooftops and alleyways, the blending layers of self-referential fiction, delirious fantasy, the creative process, the insane logistics of run-on cinematography, the seamless assembly of shifting environments, stepping into unresolved mental spaces, demonstrations of solitary madness and the unbearable anticipation of being, being judged, being booed, un-being, unhinging, delusional uppers, existential downers, magic surrealism, telekinetic fury, dreams of flying, throwing tantrums, the fragile yet invincible ego, immaculately constructed chaos, the recurring climax of ending it all -- where the blazes is that blasted improvisational drumming coming from? -- oh there, and there, so absurd, don't stop, the shot must go on, the show must go on, "You are not important, get used to it," she said, but so much angst overwhelms him, tethered to a feathered fantasy, a nagging reminder of what once was, or could have been, refusing to believe it's too late to soar to former heights, yet grounded by time and gravity, trapped in a narrative, caged in a fabrication, "You're an actress, honey," says another, "you have no self-respect" and all actors are game, Keaton and Stone zoned-in, knowing the pain, pretending to not care or pretending to matter, failing to be authentic, acting over acting, meta-acting meta-fiction meta-filmed with a meta-critical message: yeah, we're all messed-up and meta-fµcked, but after shooting your nose to spite the ruse, by unmasking the unexpected virtue of ignorance, peeling off layers of pretense and self-importance, you just might find a momentary strain of pure, uncomplicated innocence. It's not fair. I love this sh*t!
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
HBO Max Amazon Channel
HBO Max
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Michael Keaton
Riggan
Emma Stone
Sam
Zach Galifianakis
Jake
Edward Norton
Mike
Andrea Riseborough
Laura
Naomi Watts
Lesley
Amy Ryan
Sylvia
Lindsay Duncan
Tabitha
Merritt Wever
Annie
Jeremy Shamos
Ralph
Damian Young
Gabriel
Kenny Chin
Korean Grocer
Jamahl Garrison-Lowe
Daniel (Stagehand)
Katherine O'Sullivan
Costume Assistant
Natalie Gold
Clara
Michael Siberry
Larry
Clark Middleton
Sydney
William Youmans
Bartender (Tommy)
Paula Pell
Lady in Bar
David Fierro
Man in Bar
Warren Kelley
Dresser
Joel Marsh Garland
Stagehand
Brent Bateman
Broadway Tourist
Donna Lynne Champlin
Broadway Lady
Valentino Musumeci
Broadway Kid
Taylor Schwencke
Broadway Kid
Craig muMs Grant
Broadway Man on Street
Kyle Knauf
Annoying Times Square Guy
Dave Neal
Annoying Times Square Guy
Kelly Southerland
Annoying Times Square Guy
Roberta Colindrez
Broadway Woman on Street
Frank Ridley
Mr. Roth
Janis Corsair
Female Usher
Rakesh G. Shah
Liquor Store Owner
Bill Camp
Crazy Man
Malachi Weir
Guy in Window
Jackie Hoffman
Lady on Balcony (Mary)
Stephen Adly Guirgis
Good Neighbor
Glenn Wein
Young Male Usher
Ebrahim Jaffer
Cab Driver
Susan Blackwell
Intermission Woman
Anna Hardwick
Blonde Reporter
Dusan Dukic
Newscaster
Helena-Alexis Seymour
Newscaster
Ian Finlay
Newscaster
Paugh Shadow
Theater Guard (uncredited)
Kevin Thompson
Production Design
Rodrigo Prieto
Additional Photography
Emmanuel Lubezki
Director of Photography
Chris Haarhoff
Steadicam Operator
Albert Wolsky
Costume Design
Benjamin Kanes
Stunt Double
Aja Frary
Stunts
Blaise Corrigan
Stunts
Caroline Vexler
Stunts
Christopher Place
Stunts
Declan Mulvey
Stunts
Drew Leary
Stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.
Stunts
Heidi Germaine Schnappauf
Stunts
Jeremy Sample
Stunts
Mick O'Rourke
Stunts
Natalie M. Meyer
Stunts
Nicole Callender
Stunts
Peter Epstein
Stunts
Scott Burik
Stunts
Shawnna Thibodeau
Stunts
Thomas La Marche
Stunts
Thomas Place
Stunts
Victor Paguia
Stunts
Robert Legato
Thanks
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Director
Adam Somner
First Assistant Director
Stephen Mirrione
Editor
Corey Bayes
First Assistant Editor
Alexander Dinelaris
Associate Producer
Nicolás Giacobone
Associate Producer
Francine Maisler
Casting
Christopher Woodrow
Executive Producer
Sarah E. Johnson
Executive Producer
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Producer
Arnon Milchan
Producer
John Lesher
Producer
Aaron Glascock
Sound Designer
Skip Lievsay
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Tom Ozanich
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ara Khanikian
Visual Effects Supervisor
Robert Legato
Visual Effects Supervisor
Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Writer
Alexander Dinelaris
Writer
Armando Bo
Writer
Nicolás Giacobone
Writer
Gums and Noses
Channel Chaos
Thunderbolts and Lightning Strikes
Alpha Quail
Rest Stop
The Inverted Woman
Cyclops, Baby
Tres Gangsters y un Ruso
Renewing Mikael
Anniversary
Mountain King
Kamen Rider: Run All Over the World
D'Unbelievables D'Telly
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
Schindler's List
The Green Mile
Forrest Gump
GoodFellas
Once Upon a Time in America
It's a Wonderful Life
Kurukkanmoolayile Superman
Gladiator
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Children of Paradise
American Beauty
National Theatre Live: The Habit of Art
Den starkare
Daniel Sloss: X
One Hundred and One
Trainspotting
Raging Bull
Rope
Bob Spit: We Do Not Like People
On the Waterfront
A Beautiful Mind
Dog Day Afternoon
Dances with Wolves
Carlito's Way
Rosemary's Baby
Logan
Rocky
Slavemen
The King of Comedy
Pan's Labyrinth
Big Fish
The Best Years of Our Lives
Slumdog Millionaire
The Sound of Music
Maho Girls Precure! the Movie: The Miraculous Transformation! Cure Mofurun!
Entergalactic
Little Miss Sunshine
Mississippi Burning
The Hustler
Boogie Nights
Sweet Smell of Success
A Face in the Crowd
American Gangster
Kramer vs. Kramer
Gandhi
Malcolm X
Adam's Apples
Hannah and Her Sisters
In Bruges
Fear City: A Family-Style Comedy
The Reader
The Suicide Squad
American Psycho
August Rush
An Affair to Remember
Mutiny on the Bounty
Tale of the Three Jewels
All of Us Strangers
Delicatessen
Lolita
Heathers
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
The Last Full Measure
Secret Superstar
Leaving Las Vegas
Deconstructing Harry
Driving Miss Daisy
Man on the Moon
West Side Story
I Am Legend
Maria Full of Grace
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Crash
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Lars and the Real Girl
Daddy You, Daughter Me
The Proposal
Stranger Than Paradise
The Broken Hearts Gallery
The English Patient
Chicago
Grave Decisions
Punch-Drunk Love
What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Garden State
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Hudsucker Proxy
Gara-Gara Warisan
Kiss of Death
Whale Rider
The Country Girl
Rounders
The Tin Drum
The Mask
State of Grace
The Last Detail
Uptown Girls
Oliver!
The Good Companions
Too Much Harmony
Le chien des Baskerville
National Theatre Live: London Assurance
Kamen Rider Genms: -Smart Brain and the 1000% Crisis-
D(e)ad
Shaun the Sheep Movie
M*A*S*H
Broken Flowers
Nobody 2
Trick
Dogma
Pardon Mon Affaire
I Hired a Contract Killer
Katt Williams: American Hustle
A Girl at My Door
Swingers
Game Night
Shakespeare in Love
The Funeral
Paul Mooney: A Piece of My Mind - God Bless America
Le Dindon
Klute
13 Going on 30
An American Tail
Sleepless in Seattle
Oliver & Company
I Capture the Castle
Dreamgirls
Going My Way
The Forty-Year-Old Version
Footloose
One Eight Seven
Yes Man
Burn After Reading
Madame Doubtfire
Kamen Rider Zi-O NEXT TIME: Geiz, Majesty
Before Night Falls
Half Nelson
Lost in the Spotlight
Oh! What a Lovely War
Gummo
The Paper
G
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Pieces of April
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Gotti
Nina
Glamour Dolls
Smokin' Aces
Father of the Bride
The Idiots
Bride of Re-Animator
Tortilla Soup
Burning
Mars Attacks!
Shaft
Jungle Fever
Teheran '43
Fido
Me and Orson Welles
Jawbreaker
Defiance
Black Bear
Alice
He Was a Quiet Man
The Punisher
Idiocracy
Thor: Love and Thunder
Shrek the Third
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Father of the Bride Part II
Mobsters
Super Fly
The Marriage of Figaro
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie
Changing Lanes
Shortbus
Jeffrey
How to Be Single
A Chorus Line
Sabrina
Getting Go: The Go Doc Project
Aaltra
Gigi
National Theatre Live: Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
The Acrobat
Kamen Rider Geats × Revice: Movie Battle Royale
The Big White
Learning to Drive
The Weather Man
You Kill Me
The Jazz Singer
Nine 1/2 Weeks
Six Days Seven Nights
Duplex
Cocktail
Night Shift
There's No Business Like Show Business
Top Five
Shortcomings
London
Fighting
Diggers
In Good Company
Topaz
Vampire's Kiss
Around the World in 80 Days
Factory Girl
Happily Ever After
The Lost Battalion
Who's With Me?
Chicken Little
Atlantis
Nobody Will Laugh
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead
Holy Shit!
Kiss of Death
Killing the Devil
Mickey Blue Eyes
The Cry of the Owl
The Beach Bum
The In-Laws
Quicksilver
Superlopez
Time Out of Mind
Honey Don't!
Chelsea Girls
Underdog
Love Nest
Bud and Lou
La fortaleza
Bomb Scared
Trial and Error
Max Payne
Stuck on You
Cannonball Run II
Fear City
PUSSYCAT
Fast and Loose
Superhero Movie
Whirlygirl
Freehold
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Lesbian Vampire Killers
The Girlfriend Experience
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
Three Plays by Tennessee Williams
Peacock Alley
Les Voisins du dessus
The Gangster's Daughter
YOYO
Ronin
Massacre on Aisle 12
God's Time
The Crumblers Are Doing Well
Survived By
The Jerky Boys
A Four Letter Word
Great Great Great
L'Amour foot
Vanaisa
Loitering with Intent
Son of the Mask
Hercules in New York
Meet the Spartans
Gigli
Le Bouffon du Président
Dagr
Bottoms Up
Once Again (for the very first time)
Tonight at Noon
Mourning Has Broken
Быстрее чем кролики (спектакль)
Le ruban
Jedermann
Love Child
Le buzz ou comment devenir un vrai people !
Mes parents sont des enfants comme les autres
Open Space
Pour 100 briques t'as plus rien maintenant !
The Woman Upstairs
Panic at the Disco
Cla'am
Amen
National Theatre Live: The Kitchen
PLEH
The Making of a Superhero Musical
A Perfect Couple
Public Axis 3000
X-Gen
Chowchilla
The Lucky Man
The Batman: Part II
Another Day (For A Hand)
Buzzkill
Nothing True Over The Moon
IDUS
Passing
In Albis
About the Beginning
Cover Up
Bald Future
The Gallerist
Diggers
Fair Game
Superhero Rewind: The Movie
Uka-Uka
Exit Wounds
Olivos Sangrientos
Untitled "Grim Reaper Film"
American Beauty
National Theatre Live: Fleabag
All That Jazz
Tyler Perry's Madea on the Run - The Play
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
Mike Birbiglia: The New One
'night, Mother
Wildflower
American Fiction
Deconstructing Harry
Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years
Noises Off...
Ghostlight
Bullets Over Broadway
Shiva Baby
Ricky Gervais: Mortality
The Country Girl
Oh, Hello on Broadway
A Different Man
Demolition
Box of Moonlight
Marc Maron: End Times Fun
Dinner at Eight
Sweet and Lowdown
The Forty-Year-Old Version
This Is Where I Leave You
Saturday Night
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Igby Goes Down
Hollywood Ending
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Fitting In
Jimmy Carr: Natural Born Killer
Almost Friends
Standing Up, Falling Down
Not Okay
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them
Jay Kelly
Otherhood
The Weather Man
Landline
Chuck & Buck
Madeline's Madeline
10,000 Saints
Funny People
Amy Schumer: Growing
CQ
Aug 30, 2014
Telluride Film Festival
Oct 11, 2014
New York Film Festival
Oct 12, 2014
Hamptons International Film Festival
Oct 16, 2014
Philadelphia International Film Festival
Oct 17, 2014
Oct 18, 2014
Chicago International Film Festival
Oct 23, 2014
FilmColumbia Festival
Nov 14, 2014
