The Cinephile’s Journey: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.

Plot: “A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.”

Review: The first movie I can remember watching in a cinema was Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Batman. That film would forever change me. The spectacle of it all mesmerized me. On that day, I fell deeply in love with the cinematic experience, the art form of movies, and the work of Michael Keaton.

Since that fateful day, I have seen over a thousand movies in a theater and thousands more at home. I have also closely followed the career of Michael Keaton. Over the last 30+ years, his career has seen triumphant highs and spellbinding lows. Just when it seemed as if Hollywood had forgotten him and moved on, he launched into a decade defined by some of his best work. That work includes the Best Picture winner, Birdman, a film for which he received a Best Actor nomination.

This film goes beyond just using tracking shots to tell a story — it also has a lot to say about art, consumption, and what makes something relevant…