'Birdman' - Unconventional Style And Performances

Set on a stage and between the rehearsals for the play, the narration unfurls bringing to fore Thomson's insecurities and his interpersonal relationships with: his now separated wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan), his daughter Sam (Emma Stone), his friend Jake (Zach Galifianakis) who is also his producer and attorney, his co-star and girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough), Lesley (Naomi Watts) a first time Broadway actress, Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) a method actor and Tabitha Dickson (Lindsay Duncan) a theatre critic.

Michael Keaton fits into Riggan Thomson's boots with passionate grace and ease, meditating, drinking, hallucinating and fighting his way forward. He comes out as a tortured jittery personality. You relate to him. Yet, you don't feel sorry for him when he admits, "I missed the moments." Or, "I wasn't present in my own life." He emotes that realisation and nervous helplessness with panache. And that's what probably works for him in the film.

While all the ladies do their bit to perfection, it is Edward Norton who steals the show as the perky, confident method actor. He goes to extremes with his obsession to bring neo-realism on stage. He is a live-wire and his presence on screen elevates the drama and humour.

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