When I watched this film, it had just began to appear in cinema’s, it was achieving rave reviews everywhere and was currently the biggest film of the year. However, as I watched the trailer and looked at the film, my first reaction was one of confusion. I didn’t like the trailer, I wasn’t really very excited and my only reason for going to the cinema was because I was a huge fan of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s earlier works such as ‘Amores Perros’ and ‘Babel’ and basically I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. So what did I think?

Well, the film follows an actor, who was once a well known respected film-star, known for his leading role in the super-hero film ‘Birdman’ (A fictional film, with a joke upon Michael Keaton’s earlier role as Batman). This follows our protagonist Riggan (Michael Keaton) try build a relationship with his daughter Sam (Emma Stone). The film has the sub story of his relationship with his daughter and the idea of his old self and who he has become – a washed up old actor who’s barely remembered. However, he sets up to create a new hit broadway play, hoping to claw back some of the fame and respect he once had.

Well, before entering the cinema the plot to me seemed to be very dull and ordinary without any real place this film could go. However, I walked out of the cinema in pure amazement. The plot which seemed very thin, came to life and was so capturing. You begin to really understand Michael Keaton’s character and feel his anger and disappointment at what his life has become. There is a real connection with his character and this is undoubtably due to his impeccable acting performance. Michael Keaton really came back out of nowhere to show the world just how good he was, ironically, this was quite similar to the premise of the film. Whether he should have won the Oscar over Eddie Redmayne is an argument in which I do not wish to divulge. They were both incredible performances and either one was deserving.

Not only this but the characters of Edward Norton and Emma Stone are wonderfully created, Emma Stone plays the beautiful yet angry teenager with a lot of resentment towards her Dad. Which I couldn’t believe just how good she was, for me it was the defining film of her career and was an idea of what we get to see from this hugely talented actress in the future. She was maybe unlucky to miss out on an Oscar but definitely deserving of her first ever oscar nomination. Whereas Edward Norton comes as the actor to join in the broadway performance, who is hugely talented and wants to make the show into something brilliant. As always with Norton, his performance is just brilliant. For me the great scene where he decides to completely re-make one of the broadway scenes and show Keaton’s character how to perform it, is just pure acting gold. He came up for his 3rd Oscar nomination and was a sure winner until the unmatchable performance of J.K Simmonds (Whiplash). Yet, Edward Norton is still one of the greatest contemporary actor’s to hit our screens. So overall, despite no acting performance bringing in any Oscar’s, it was an incredible display by all 3 of them.

Now, the acting on its own was enough to make this film great, however, that acting is not what grabbed my attention. It was the unforgettable cinematography. The idea was to make the film seem like it’s what long and interrupted shot, which would seem an impossible task, yet it was performed outstandingly. The lighting in the shots was breathtaking. Emmanuel Lubezki, took him his second consecutive Oscar (the year before winning for the Sci-Fi hit Gravity) with one of the best styles and shooting of a film I have ever witnessed.

For the final part, you can not overlook Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s genius. To make what seemed like such a very thin plot into something hugely fascinating and interesting. The writing was just perfect for the film and it would be very difficult to flaw. Yet, his directing was just on a whole new level, he made the film his own and wasn’t afraid of taking risks. The whole concept of the film was widely considered that it would fail. Yet he tried anyway and took a chance. He’s not a director who feels the need to play safe and choose an easy option and for that we were privileged with an utterly unique and original film.

The film ended up winning 4 Oscars’ 3 of which to Alejandro G. Iñárritu for Directing, Writing and of course the prestigious award for the Best Picture. Whilst also taking home the winner for Cinematography which was a very much unchallenged category for Birdman. Whilst also being nominated for 5 more in Acting and Sound, it was obvious that this was loved by film goers and critics.

So did this deserve to win Best Picture? Many argued that Boyhood was more original, far more clever and an actual better film. Yet, in my opinion this was an absolutely brilliant film and by far deserving of the Best Picture honour. In a year which created many great films such as: Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, Whiplash, Imitation Game and many more. This came out on top and I’m sure will become a true classic in years to come.

9/10