There is a vibrance and an energy to Birdman that starts right from the opening frame and really continues to that final look out of the window.  A movie that straddles the line between dream and reality, where the camera seems to never leave the actors and one where the actors are given a showcase for their talents.

Birdman gives a glimpse into the life of Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, a washed-up actor whose former superhero role has consumed him and now he’s set to direct and star in his own Broadway play.  As opening night looms his play is slowly falling apart as is his life around him.  Players come in and around Keaton’s character but everything centers on him and his performance.  As Keaton starts to unravel we’re given hints at his sanity as he tries desperately to hold things together and he’s terrific.  Keaton’s an actor who always felt a little dangerous and whose performances always had an edge and it all plays here to perfection.  He’s aided by an impressive cast with the standout being Edward Norton, even when he’s acting to act he’s mesmerizing and you can’t stop watching him work.  I thought Emma Stone was serviceable with one great scene with Keaton but left with not much else to do.

The direction from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is almost perfection.  There are a few scenes that feel rushed and a few characters feel like they are forgotten but the way the film is crafted is really impressive.  Aside from a few obvious cuts the film seems to never take any breaks.  Every transition is seamless and cameras careen towards characters and around corners to give the impression that we never leave the action.  The jazzy score also seems to never leaves the background and adds to the energy of the film.  Chaotic and frantic sometimes it all adds to the tension and the overall excitement of the film.  No spoilers here, but the ending just didn’t land for me.  Inarritu lays clues along the way as to what is happening to Keaton’s character and I felt that the ending flies in the face of that.  Even though I felt the ending fell flat it still didn’t change the way I felt about the film and the overall joy I felt watching everything unfold.

Recommend? Totally, and then explain to me what you thought happened at the end.