Caww! The triumphant bird-cry of Riggan Thompson reverberates in movie theaters across the country! "Birdman" is one of the best movies of the year. Michael Keaton (Riggan) riffs on his persona as a third-rate actor mostly known for playing a superhero (Birdman, in this case) who is staging a Broadway play in which he wrote and also stars. Ambitious to say the least. Aiding and abetting Riggan is group of loyal thespians, marshaled to their cause by Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) a famous actor and last minute replacement to the cast. Shiner's presence is a boon for the show but ultimately a threat to Riggan. In the days leading up the premiere, Riggan must juggle his cast, his ego and even his tighty-whities (in Phil's favorite scene). It's no accident that the term 'balls' gets repeatedly bandied about in "Birdman" as a way to encompass the magnitude of what Riggan is attempting. This film will leave you with a lot to discuss and many great performances to enjoy. Phil said "Birdman" is best appreciated by those with a background in theater. Andrew marveled at the cinematographic excellence of Emmanuel Lubezki's dexterous camerawork. Wait, we didn't even get to talk about the whole stylistic conceit of the film! Aw, just go out and see "Birdman", it gets four feathers from In the Queue, the highest rating!
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