So, I just saw Birdman, and it was pretty fucking fantastic. Now, I've been excited to see this movie for a while because it's from one of my favourite directors, Alejandro González Iñárritu. I've seen every single one of his feature-length films and I don't think there's a single one that wouldn't make it on my best of the year list. He's a master at what he does, and in this movie he's really outdone himself. Despite being excited for this movie for a while, there was one detail I didn't know until about a week ago - and that's that almost the entire movie is cheated to look like one continuous shot. And it's pulled off amazingly well. If you understand film-making and editing then there will be some moments where you can tell that would probably be the point where it would make the most sense to make a cut. But that's about as close as it gets, and it's cheated so well that you can never actually see any cuts being made. There was so much careful planning and coordination that went into this movie, and it really shows in the final product. If you've seen the trailer then you should expect that parts of it are a little surrealist, to say the least. This is very true, and those scenes play a prominent role in the film, so although this is a movie I think that most everyone will enjoy, don't be thinking that it's a real superhero movie. This is a movie about a washed up actor that used to play a superhero trying to revive his career in broadway. It's interesting that the lead is being played by Michael Keaton, who used to play Batman. Not only that, but Edward Norton, who used to play The Incredible Hulk, and Emma Stone, who was in the last two Spider-Man movies, are also in the film, and they both do a great job. There was not a single weak performance in this film and everything felt incredibly natural. There was also so much purpose towards every single decision that was made. Like, the fact that the movie's about a theatrical production goes really well with it being all in one shot. If you think about it, that's kind of how theater works. Many of the theatrical techniques to change scenes, like actors changing costumes, were likely used in this film as well. And remember, I say "likely", because I'm not a hundred per cent sure where the cuts actually are. The story was absolutely fantastic, and it's shocking to see a screenplay with four collaborative writers working together that flows so well; they challenged each other creatively and were able to get the very best ideas out of it. The way that this movie is written is kind of like one giant statement on the entertainment industry. And it criticizes a lot......including snobby critics. It also heavily criticizes the superhero genre. But it does it right. And what better movie to criticize a lack of art in mainstream cinema than one that's as masterful as this. Because the way that this was shot was absolutely mind-blowing, and this is probably the best directing I've seen all year. If you couldn't tell from the trailer, this movie mostly functions as a comedy,but as expected from this director it was much more than that. Watching our characters perform their lines in a theatrical play wasn't just time spent not learning anything: we got to see our characters' relationships develop each time they were performed, and the selective lines that we were shown for this play really bring us into the mind of the main character and why he chose to tackle this particular play. Before watching this film, I was a little skeptical knowing that Alejandro's main-man composer Gustavo "Santao-la-la-la-lalla" wouldn't be working on it. But even without him the score was pretty great. But what was greater than the score was the way that it was used: I don't want to be too specific about it and spoil a particular moment, but let's just say that it adds loads of personality to the film.This has all the markings of an amazing film - the decisions that were made were intelligent and had purpose; the film-making went above and beyond impressive. I was absolutely transfixed into this movie.

"I'm nothing. I'm not even here."

'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 finally saw the film and I can safely say that Birdman is one of the best movie of 2014.

I always knew 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 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. 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 in 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 marvelous 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 and 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.

Michael Keaton leads the charge as a teetering schizophrenic actor, struggling to find validation on Broadway after a long, expired run as a glossy Hollywood blockbuster-dweller.

On a purely technical level, it's astounding. Precisely edited to appear as though the whole thing were executed in one extremely long take, it's a mesmerizing experience, profoundly different and expertly crafty when the timeline needs to leap forward. It's dazzlingly acted, too, with Keaton delivering a masterful performance alongside noteworthy supporting work from Ed Norton, Emma Stone and (to my surprise) a very versatile Zach Galifianakis.

The moral lessons are laid on thick, though, and too often it feels like we're being lectured for daring to indulge in the kind of loathsome fun that drove our lead to this strange brand of mania. One scene in particular, Keaton's confrontation with a stuffy critic before opening night (who glares right into the camera before storming off in a cloud of self-righteousness) plays like a direct scolding of the audience.

Maybe theatre purists will take this as a firm voice of reason, the rare call of someone who finally gets it, but to me it came off as tremendously stuck-up and pretentious. I can't deny there's a lot to enjoy here, and it's a clear arrival for auteur Alejandro González Iñárritu, but I also can't help wondering how much better it would be without that permeating air of superiority.

"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.

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.