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Revisiting Birdman: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance (2014)

Continuing from my last post about 'Birdman', I want to add that this is the film that resembled the most with Rajat Kapoor's critically acclaimed film, 'Aankhon Dekhi' from Bollywood in terms of its depiction of 'Super-Realism'. In Birdman, Micheal Keaton tries to commit suicide on-stage out of sheer frustration for not being able to fulfill a promising acting prophecy whereas in Aankhon Dekhi, Sanjay Mishra does the exact opposite and in order to know the death up-close, he jumps from a cliff. Micheal Keaton hurts his nose instead and gets rave review for his 'super-real' performance. Sanjay Mishra, I believe, dies in Aankhon Dekhi (The ending of it is anybody's guess).

Now talking about cast and crew of Birdman, Micheal Keaton headlines the roll credit while Naomi Watts, Zach Galifiankis, Edward Norton, Amy Ryan and Emma Stone play supporting cast. Micheal Keaton who lastly reminded us of his supreme acting talent back in 1989 with Tim Burton's Batman Franchise was the most obvious choice for Alfonso. His casting back then as Batman was very controversial and this time too, he raised many an eyebrows. But good for him, he did the justice with both the projects. Back then, Jack Nicholson as Joker stole the show from him, this time the very incarnation of Marlon Brando (Brando and Sean Penn believed so), i.e. Ed Norton came tantalizing close to do so. Before the interval, the odds close in very much in favor of Ed Norton only for the Keaton to pull a superb counter-punch in dying moments of film. It was quite a spectacle, ladies and gentlemen.

Edward Norton has always been considered better than Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio by many, these two being his most successful and talented contemporaries. But if anyone has seen him in his debut role in "Primal Fear' opposite Richard Gere as mumbling, fearful but manipulating teenager would know why he has been thought so highly in some Hollywood quarters. You can watch David Fincher's seminal 'Fight Club' to get a first hand experience of his acting talent. He was better than Pitt, hands down. No doubt, Brando believed he was the best and thus trusted him with his last acting project. And if you know Brando, you would like to believe him. There hasn't been anyone better than him....He was the GODFATHER in real sense.

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