Friday Film Noir
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) is a dark comedy directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and written by Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo. The story follows Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton), a faded Hollywood actor once famous for playing a comic-book superhero, who is attempting to reinvent himself by staging a serious Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver story. As previews begin, Riggan struggles with creative insecurity, financial pressure, and a deteriorating sense of identity, all while being haunted by the voice of his former superhero persona. His relationships with his daughter Sam (Emma Stone), co-star Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), and ex-wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan) grow increasingly strained as opening night approaches. The production becomes a collision of ego, ambition, and self-doubt, with Riggan fighting to prove his relevance before everything collapses.
Filmed primarily in New York City, the production made extensive use of the St. James Theatre. Iñárritu conceived the film to appear as a single continuous shot, a decision that required months of technical rehearsal before filming began. Michael Keaton was not the original first choice for Riggan, but once cast, the role quickly took on autobiographical resonance due to his own history with a superhero franchise. Keaton has said he was drawn to the part precisely because it made him uncomfortable. The cast underwent extensive timing rehearsals to synchronize dialogue with camera movement, as missed cues often meant restarting entire sequences. Scenes were filmed in long, uninterrupted takes that could last over ten minutes, demanding theatrical stamina from the actors. The film’s jazz score, performed by Antonio Sánchez, was played live on set to influence rhythm and pacing. Birdman premiered at the 2014 Venice Film Festival and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with awards for Director, Original Screenplay, and Cinematography.
