How many of you thought, "What if Johnny Depp had played Riggan Thomson?!" Raise your hands, please. :) :) Not to take away any credit from Michael Keaton; he is so superlative that I probably saved the best (performance) for the last (it's less than two weeks for the Oscars); and am wondering if he'll win the coveted Best Actor trophy.
Emmanuel Lubezki could soon become an institution. If he is not one already, yet, that is... The master cinematographer makes what could be his toughest assignment on camera till date look effortlessly spectacular - visually and e-motion-ally. He and his crew move the camera almost like poetry in motion, all through the movie. Shot in flat film format, there's never a disruption in the flow or the ease of view, surprisingly. It turns out to be a boat-ride that would leave you swaying - in total awe. I think I won't even attempt, as words fail me... and will simply quote what Edward Norton said in an interview - "It's amazing what he (Lubezki) pulled off as a cinematographer in this film. It's every bit as amazing as what he did in 'Gravity,' and yet in a totally different type of story and context."
In 2012, I had watched a movie on Netflix - Amorres Perros. Quite a stunner, I was surprised to know that the same director had made Birdman, just before watching it today. It's Nirvana when a film-maker has a complex script, and is able to bring it to life on 70 mm exactly the way he wants. (In short, give Christopher Nolan a run for his money. LOL!)
I came back home and only then learnt that Biutiful and 21 grams were from the same genius. David Fincher, Richard Linklater, and Alejandro Iñárritu - this year's Academy Awards sure has a league of extraordinary gentlemen - read d-i-r-e-c-t-o-r-s. I have a slight hunch that Linklater might just nudge out Iñárritu, for the sheer time and patience it took for Boyhood in the making.
Edward Norton in a performance that might actually win him some Broadway plays, and moreover may break his jinx at the Oscars, finally. He is a class act... totally!
Emma Stone as the rehabilitated daughter is a frikkin' revelation... Her long dialogues and expressions were much more natural than a similar act I had watched less than 24 hours ago... only difference: I was glowing this time.
Naomi Watts, as always, is a natural and plays the fragile wannabe artist really well.
and
Zach Galifianakis - boy! this man can act reallly well...
Iñárritu has walked the tight rope beautifully and delicately. Like his able Konzertmeisters, Lubezki, Keaton, Norton, and Galifianakis sync their (heart)beats with the director's, making this a great orgy.
Iñárritu depicts the kind of stress that a Kamal Haasan must have gone through while making his magnum opus "Marudhanayagam", and more. The kind of stress that anyone who's been a superstar (or has had some form or level of adulation) can experience; in this case a superhero of the nineties who is fighting ageing and craving fame, yet again. The thing is, he does a fine job in his Broadway play; but at the same time is fighting his inner demons. And that's captured so beautifully and is as exciting to watch as milk being poured onto black coffee that you're viewing sideways in a glass beaker or container. Picture perfect; in slow motion.
The acts of transcendental meditation and psychokinesis are hard-hitting (pun intended!) and fit in so well. (It mind-fucks with you and if you are wondering why the bleep I used that, you'll have to watch the movie, which hits hard with some crazy aberration - in a great sense.)
Theatre is usually treated a serious subject. Take that topic into a film and chances are - you'll end up sulking into a tragedy pretty soon. And that's where Birdman holds your breath. Over and over again, with some neat one liners, like ""Popularity is the slutty little cousin of Prestige, great humour, and never a dull moment; not to mention, Antonio Sanchez's haunting drum score.
Here is a movie that I'm sure will be a great case study in quite a few departments of film-making - characterization, cinematography, and great direction.
It sure that deserves a standing ovation, just like at the end of a nice theatre act. For a good two minutes... Yeah, that good. It will stay with me probably as much as The Artist. For the next couple of days, I'd be flying in the air, just like Birdman.
Emmanuel Lubezki could soon become an institution. If he is not one already, yet, that is... The master cinematographer makes what could be his toughest assignment on camera till date look effortlessly spectacular - visually and e-motion-ally. He and his crew move the camera almost like poetry in motion, all through the movie. Shot in flat film format, there's never a disruption in the flow or the ease of view, surprisingly. It turns out to be a boat-ride that would leave you swaying - in total awe. I think I won't even attempt, as words fail me... and will simply quote what Edward Norton said in an interview - "It's amazing what he (Lubezki) pulled off as a cinematographer in this film. It's every bit as amazing as what he did in 'Gravity,' and yet in a totally different type of story and context."
In 2012, I had watched a movie on Netflix - Amorres Perros. Quite a stunner, I was surprised to know that the same director had made Birdman, just before watching it today. It's Nirvana when a film-maker has a complex script, and is able to bring it to life on 70 mm exactly the way he wants. (In short, give Christopher Nolan a run for his money. LOL!)
I came back home and only then learnt that Biutiful and 21 grams were from the same genius. David Fincher, Richard Linklater, and Alejandro Iñárritu - this year's Academy Awards sure has a league of extraordinary gentlemen - read d-i-r-e-c-t-o-r-s. I have a slight hunch that Linklater might just nudge out Iñárritu, for the sheer time and patience it took for Boyhood in the making.
Edward Norton in a performance that might actually win him some Broadway plays, and moreover may break his jinx at the Oscars, finally. He is a class act... totally!
Emma Stone as the rehabilitated daughter is a frikkin' revelation... Her long dialogues and expressions were much more natural than a similar act I had watched less than 24 hours ago... only difference: I was glowing this time.
Naomi Watts, as always, is a natural and plays the fragile wannabe artist really well.
and
Zach Galifianakis - boy! this man can act reallly well...
Iñárritu has walked the tight rope beautifully and delicately. Like his able Konzertmeisters, Lubezki, Keaton, Norton, and Galifianakis sync their (heart)beats with the director's, making this a great orgy.
Iñárritu depicts the kind of stress that a Kamal Haasan must have gone through while making his magnum opus "Marudhanayagam", and more. The kind of stress that anyone who's been a superstar (or has had some form or level of adulation) can experience; in this case a superhero of the nineties who is fighting ageing and craving fame, yet again. The thing is, he does a fine job in his Broadway play; but at the same time is fighting his inner demons. And that's captured so beautifully and is as exciting to watch as milk being poured onto black coffee that you're viewing sideways in a glass beaker or container. Picture perfect; in slow motion.
The acts of transcendental meditation and psychokinesis are hard-hitting (pun intended!) and fit in so well. (It mind-fucks with you and if you are wondering why the bleep I used that, you'll have to watch the movie, which hits hard with some crazy aberration - in a great sense.)
Theatre is usually treated a serious subject. Take that topic into a film and chances are - you'll end up sulking into a tragedy pretty soon. And that's where Birdman holds your breath. Over and over again, with some neat one liners, like ""Popularity is the slutty little cousin of Prestige, great humour, and never a dull moment; not to mention, Antonio Sanchez's haunting drum score.
Here is a movie that I'm sure will be a great case study in quite a few departments of film-making - characterization, cinematography, and great direction.
It sure that deserves a standing ovation, just like at the end of a nice theatre act. For a good two minutes... Yeah, that good. It will stay with me probably as much as The Artist. For the next couple of days, I'd be flying in the air, just like Birdman.
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