Alejandro Gonzalez to helm.....Birdman

[Carnotaur3]

Spoiler

Well i was left pondering did Keaton's character die or not since the next sequence was about superheroes, a meterorite and jelly fish, but then we cut to the hospital and know he's alive, then he jumps out of the window and becomes Birdman. I personally felt it did the "died for art" scene twice, it felt like when Aronofsky had the same ending for Black Swan as he did for Wrestler.

Spoiler

Keaton let go of his ego self and soared so to speak.

 

[Leenie]

Spoiler

Well i was left pondering did Keaton's character die or not since the next sequence was about superheroes, a meterorite and jelly fish, but then we cut to the hospital and know he's alive, then he jumps out of the window and becomes Birdman. I personally felt it did the "died for art" scene twice, it felt like when Aronofsky had the same ending for Black Swan as he did for Wrestler.

Spoiler

In my opinion, the movie ends on a more positive note? When he goes into the bathroom, sees Birdman trying to taunt him, he says "F you." I interpreted that at Keaton's declaration of victory over the role that ironically kept his career from flying/souring. He got his good review and he got his artistic prestige. Because he finally got those things, he is finally at peace with himself being the Birdman character. I interpreted it as "Yeah society, call me Birdman all you want. That's okay with me now, because I know that I got what I wanted; I proved to everyone, even for just one moment, that I am a legit artist."

I didn't really interpret it as a suicide thing, personally. I can totally see why it has been viewed that way, though. I viewed it as him simply moving on; starting anew with his life.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I heard an interesting theory that he's an alien, and that meteor you see intercut throughout the film is actually him who landed here. He's an actual superhero but then turned into someone who just wanted to be an artist and a regular guy but gave his hardest to gain it, despite what others thought. Then once he got what he wanted, the last thing his daughter saw was her father actually flying around. So one could interpret those moments of his powers as actually being a display of real powers and maybe not in his head.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I heard an interesting theory that he's an alien, and that meteor you see intercut throughout the film is actually him who landed here. He's an actual superhero but then turned into someone who just wanted to be an artist and a regular guy but gave his hardest to gain it, despite what others thought. Then once he got what he wanted, the last thing his daughter saw was her father actually flying around. So one could interpret those moments of his powers as actually being a display of real powers and maybe not in his head.

Kind of like The Man Who Fell To Earth?

 

[BlueLightning]

The wording of the ending in the script is pretty interesting. I don't have it to hand right now, but it in no way implies he flies

Spoiler

She spots the opened window and registers the sounds from
outside. Tentatively she walks toward the window. She gets
there, summons her courage and looks down. Nothing. Slowly,
confused, she tilts her head up and looks up into the sky. A
smile, filled with pride, begin to wash over her face.

I'm sticking to the interpretation that he wanted to kill himself on stage. He wanted to be a legitimate actor, willing to die for his craft. But he failed. The fact that survived, and Jake's comments about him being a hit, that the play will go on forever, that studios will call again, the book offers... I don't know, it seems like a return to the blockbuster model that Tabitha criticized and from which Riggan was attempting to escape. So he flew from Birdman one last time forever.

But Sam expression at the end, looking down, then looking up is perplexing. I think she finally saw his father as he looked himself.

 

[hoy-small-fry]

Spoiler

Thanks for finding that

I read it as she sees him on the ground dead, but realises that he wanted to die for his art form. She looks up as she sees that he is finally free

 

[AnneFan]

Saw the movie today. Thought it was brilliant. Keaton deserves all the praise he's getting for this role. I love how ambiguous the movie was, and how anyone can mount a sound case for their interpretation.

Riggins either:

Spoiler

- Died at the beginning with the 'attempted drowning'.
- Died on stage.
- Died from the window jump at the end.

During the movie Riggins says he attempted to drown himself and was stung by jellyfish. As we know, the movie commences with jellyfish and they appear again near the end. It is possible he could have hallucinated the events of the movie while in the water and died that way.

However I think he died on stage. Taking control of his own fate and letting it be all about him. It is very clear Riggins hallucinated (the flying scenes, moving objects around) and visualised a world he wanted. He put everything into his play and rehearsals were not going smoothly. He was told by the reviewer it would be savaged in the paper. The Birdman persona was all about how he was superior to everyone else and that he demanded respect for his past achievements. Riggins repeatedly states in the film how he cannot stand being humiliated.

He also mentions a bumpy plane ride which he shared with George Clooney, and how it would've been all about George dying and not him.

However, ambiguity returns (I'm sure this was said anyway) with a foreshadowing comment earlier in the movie where a character comments on a botched death on stage. Could Riggins have been one of these too, and he wakes up in the hospital very much alive?

If he did, I'd say he jumped out the window and went splat. However, I take the view this is a metaphorical scene. Jake says there is a gathering in Central Park for Riggan. This could be a wake/memorial for his death on stage, and not simply a 'get well soon' type thing. Or simply an idealised fantasy such as Riggins wanting his play to be a big success with a standing ovation. Though the only recent fame he really received was due to walking through Times Square in his underwear.

His daughter says he looks ugly and Riggan says he can't smell anything. It could represent his current condition of being coffin bound. Him jumping from the building could represent him finally leaving Birdman behind in the bathroom while he ascends to the afterlife.

Interesting movie.

 

[Faora]

Great movie. Just brilliant. Keaton deserve Oscar.

 

[dark_b]

Zach

 

[DarthSkywalker]

This is finally playing near me starting Friday. I will see it.

 

[Kane52630]

Saw it again a few days ago and man this holds up so well.

 

[Spider-Man Luvr28]

They started playing this movie at the theater near me so naturally, I went ahead and took in the last showing at 11pm & I totally loved this film. MK was brilliant and Emma was great. Hope they both get their Oscar wins (esp. Keaton).

 

[Octoberist]

I prefer Zach with he beard. Makes him look way younger. Though I'm very happy for his weight loss.

 

[Octoberist]

BTW, wasn't Zach super underrated in the film? Not enough people talked about his performance.

 

[Leenie]

BTW, wasn't Zach super underrated in the film? Not enough people talked about his performance.

He tends to drive me crazy now, but he was FANTASTIC in this movie.

 

[Pink Ranger]

BTW, wasn't Zach super underrated in the film? Not enough people talked about his performance.

So strange seeing him as the straight man, but agreed nonetheless.

 

[Boom]

I need Zach in a Teddy Roosevelt biopic.

 

[Kane52630]

Birdman Concept Poster by Steve Chorney

 

[A Necessary Evil]

dem tighty whities tho

 

[hoy-small-fry]

Read an interview with Inarratu about the Times Square scene. Apparently the Spidey 2 team refused to let them use their mock-up set, so they just did it for real in Times Square. They had a band setup and play to distract people, then let Keaton out onto the street in his underwear. The camera phones are all genuine people. Amazing

 

[Asr]

Am I the only one who threw up a little when Emma Stone macked on Edward Norton? He's not exactly the most attractive guy, let alone in the context of the movie (due to his character being semi-unlikable), and their age difference (nearly 20 years!) made that aspect look totally weird & creepy.

 

[Black Narcissus]

Am I the only one who threw up a little when Emma Stone macked on Edward Norton? He's not exactly the most attractive guy, let alone in the context of the movie (due to his character being semi-unlikable), and their age difference (nearly 20 years!) made that aspect look totally weird & creepy.

Just you.

 

[Greens]

Am I the only one who threw up a little when Emma Stone macked on Edward Norton? He's not exactly the most attractive guy, let alone in the context of the movie (due to his character being semi-unlikable), and their age difference (nearly 20 years!) made that aspect look totally weird & creepy.

I was just jealous of him.

 

[hoy-small-fry]

I was just jealous of him.

This ^

 

[Marvolo]

Blu-ray is $19.96 on Amazon.