BARE BONES: BIRDMAN and FURY
March 17, 2015 by MonsterZero NJ	in Bare Bones and tagged Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Andrea Riseborough, Birdman, Brad Pitt, David Ayer, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Fury, Jon Bernthal, Logan Lerman, Michael Keaton, Michael Peña, Naomi Watts, Shia LaBeouf, war movie, Zach Galifianakis
Birdman is a quirky and refreshingly off-beat comedy/drama from director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and appropriately stars Michael Keaton as Riggan Thompson, an actor trying to reignite his fading star. Riggan was once world famous for starring in the lead of the popular superhero franchise, Birdman. Now he's entering his 60s and trying to validate himself and add some relevance back to his life by writing, directing and starring in a Broadway play. Obviously, what can go wrong, will go wrong and there are an eccentric group of characters…including his imaginary, costumed alter-ego…in the mix to add to Riggan's troubles. Iñárritu has a very original style that fits the story so well. It's filled with lengthy tracking shots following our characters from scene to scene and some delightfully surreal moments as well. The cast are all top notch, with Keaton giving one of his best performances and it definitely is his show. He is supported by the likes of Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Naomi Watts and Andrea Riseborough who are all excellent in their roles, too. But, in my humble opinion, it is Emma Stone who steals every scene she's in with her best work to date as Riggan's fresh out of rehab daughter. She is simply a powerhouse in some scenes and holds her own…and more…with the seasoned veterans. A flick worthy of it's praise. The only negative I had was that the jazz drum score got on my nerves after awhile. Otherwise, a great little movie.
If you are a fan of WWII flicks and all the familiar trappings, then you'll probably enjoy this. I found it to be kinda dull and any dramatic weight or intensity of the action is brought down by an overload of clichés. The story, written and directed by David Ayer, finds Staff Sergeant Don Collier (Brad Pitt) leading his tank crew deep into Germany in 1945 to clean up the last of the German military resistance…and not having an easy time of it. Ayer throws every cliché in the book from situations to stereotypical war movie characters and adds some Private Ryan style violence, but the effect is still that we've seen it all before, since the very first WWII movie was made. The film is well-directed and action well-staged, but it's just too familiar to be interesting and takes very few risks to liven things up. If you like this kind of film, go for it. Otherwise it's nothing you haven't seen in countless other likewise movies. The solid cast also stars Shia LaBeouf, Michael Peña, Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal and Logan Lerman as the stereotypical green newbie.
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