《鸟人》

 The film stars Michael Keaton as Riggan Thompson, a once-upon-a-one-time box office suporstar for playing the superhero of the title in three huge, loud hits*. Years later, Thompson is throwing his money and sanity* into his Broadway debut*, a play based on the works of Raymond Carver.

    Keaton may best be known as the caped hero from the original “Batman” back in the 1980s.

    The film is about a man’s struggles and will to do many things at once — writing, acting and directing while also starring in a Broadway adaptation* of Carver’s “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.”

    Thompson is somehow troubled by his alter-ego* of Birdman. In short, he is still haunted by Birdman through his subconscious* state. The hallucinations* that Thompson has are seen as a result of pressure from his new task that includes having to deal with high maintenance people for the play. He tries to compensate those he loves, but doesn’t know how to see beyond his own needs. His wife tells him the truth of this: “You confuse love for admiration.”

    Keaton is excellent here, as he always is.

    Zach Galifianakis gives what may be his finest work as Thompson’s lawyer, finally playing a character with strength. Edward Norton is also a highlight as a theater actor who’s a god on the boards in front of an audience and a mess everywhere else. Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, Amy Ryan and Andrea Riseborough are all good, with Stone’s work as Thompson’s post-rehab* daughter making her first among equals of all the supporting actresses.

    The theme of the film is clear — time moves on while we aren’t looking, show business can be both terrible and glorious*, wanting is the root of all suffering, big studio blockbusters* can be bad. The end of the film, however, which presents human tragedy and death as some kind of metaphorical victory lap*, is unnatural. (SD-Agencies)