BIRDMAN MOTHERFUCKAS (2014 film feat. Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, et al)

lol otm

Crash vs. American Beauty vs. this shitshow

I would rip Thinwall's eyes out and put them in my own skull so that I could see ILX that way again

Crash vs. American Beauty vs. this shitshow

If you don't know Crash is in a league all its own, I don't even know where to begin.

yeah Crash is def the worst

but Crash vs. American Beauty vs. Spider-Man 3 would be tough

i still legit hate Crash.

the only equivalence I was referencing was their award-winning (and, to a lesser extent, their "big statement"/of-the-moment commentary nature)

Haggis is not afraid to be stupid

and, to a lesser extent, their "big statement"/of-the-moment commentary nature

What "big statement" is this supposed to be making?? I'll say it again: it's clichéd and over-the-top in the service of comedy. The Ophuls comparison Jay Vee should be making is the circus in Lola Montes. Not that Birdman is a masterpiece of cinema. But it's using its technical devices to similar effect.

The closest Birdman comes to an American Beauty moment is ...

http://media.giphy.com/media/Ya6TjOP90uoJa/giphy.gif

"big statement" in Academy terms = jampacked w references to contemporary cultural flashpoints

Big Statement in Academy terms = an actress' breasts.

prosthetic noses also acceptable

You mock noses.

A nose by any other name

we should poll Academy-approved prosthetic noses - Monster, The Hours, Birdman, Foxcatcher. Raging Bull would win I suppose

wizard of oz

just green makeup for original witch nvm

but def lion and tin man. guess witch nose prosthetic was fostered by disney cartoons.

The ending was a bit twee

Except... He probably actually killed himself. At least that's how I read it.

― the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Monday, January 26, 2015 4:16 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

chap otm

That would explain his daughter's relief in the last shot.

there's no read of the ending that makes sense

Thought that was film giving us the birdman we crave, though he is actually dead.

he died on stage. Everything after is terrible fake ending.

He was actually just window washing naked

You wish he window washed naked bc that is a famous scene from birdman 2

Two titles for two movies. One instinctively wants it to be birdman 4 while watching, which is sad bc that instinct is the impetus for the tragedy unfolding in the true story of birdman.

Cool movie, amazing soundtrack, surprised it took so long before somebody on a rooftop looked out at New York and proclaimed "God I love this city".

But yeah he didn't kill himself at the end. Or if we are going to say he did kill himself I'm pretty sure it was when he jumped off the building the day before.

iirc the line was "I loathe this city."

Lol was gonna say

Still cliche, just with a cynical tint to it. Actually that kind of describes this whole movie. Most of the characters felt like very broad stereotypes, and it wouldn't work nearly as well if the technical aspects weren't all just locked in to be nearly PERFECT. If I was teaching a film class this would be a perfect movie to bring out.

It's funny but in a way it's just as comic booky as the comic book movies that are the villains of this film.

But yeah he didn't kill himself at the end. Or if we are going to say he did kill himself I'm pretty sure it was when he jumped off the building the day before.

every other instance of his "powers" in the film are shown to be either unreal or otherwise in his mind (incl when he jumps off the building the day before - when he walks back into the theater he's being badgered by a cabbie for the fare), why would the end be any different

it could be a 'feelgood' cheat like that pisspoor climax of Being There where Sellers walks on water.

yeah - and the only real clue there is his daughter's expression. although maybe she is just glad he's dead.

altho tbf I like the ending of Being There

the most notable thing about this film was Norton playing the essence of every "Norton is an asshole to work with" story from the last 20 years.

that was certainly the most enjoyable thing about it

The movie goes downhill after his and Keaton's first moment onstage.

Finally saw this last night, super fun. Sure it's showoffy, but it's hard for me to believe that anyone interested in film wouldn't enjoy just the physical mechanics of its construction (tracking shot, drum score, jittery dialogue etc. etc.) Man there are some grumpy snobs upthread.

I'm a cheerful snob.

if you don't mind that what's under the showboating is repulsive

I feel bad for them.

we're practically like CRITICS, applying LABELS

citrics

fuck critics

if you want a good review

it took 4 writers to simulate the howling self-absorption of Paddy Chayefsky gone New Age.

― touch of a love-starved cobra (Dr Morbius), Sunday, February 22, 2015 8:05 PM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Haha, yes! Finally watched this, and thought of Network several times throughout--not a good thing.

it held it together tonally far better than network imo but the good things abt network are in the mix, def