One of this fall’s most anticipated movies is undoubtedly Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s Birdman, in which Michael Keaton plays a fading Broadway star who decides to revitalize his career by starring as the titular superhero in a risky production. It marks a definite step into more comedic territory for Innaritu, whose past efforts include 21 Grams, Babel and Biutiful, as well as a possible career restarter for Keaton, best known for playing a superhero in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman (meta, I know).
The first trailer for Birdman has arrived, and it’s doing absolutely nothing to temper my anticipation for this movie. Set to the rather haunting “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley, it finds Keaton’s actor getting ready for the show, psyching himself up and gravely asking, “How did we end up here, in this dump? You’re a movie star, remember?” Then, things get really interesting, with explosions, a giant mechanical bird, small glimpses of the supporting cast and some fascinating visual tricks from Innaritu. Check it out right here:
In addition to Keaton, the film stars Emma Stone, Zach Galafianakis, Amy Ryan, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough and Naomi Watts, a supremely promising group of actors. I’m very excited for Birdman – though it may be a bit too odd to be the Oscar contender that Fox Searchlight is surely hoping it is, this dramatic comedy could be one of the most truly unique movies of the fall.
Birdman opens October 17th, though it will probably arrive on the festival circuit before that. Look for it to make appearances at TIFF, Venice or Telluride.
BIRDMAN or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance is a black comedy that tells the story of an 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.
