JAKE: |
Yeah. He ' s an Avenger. |
RIGGAN: |
Fuck. They put him in a cape, too? 10 |
This dialog extracted from Birdman reveals an underlying cynicism and judgement about the quality of the films that these supposedly‘ good’ actors are involved in. Young adult and comic book adaptations are being criticised and the idea of the theatre as a place of artistic integrity is being pushed. The fact that this is being discussed in a film essentially about a superhero lends a sense of irony to the dialogue while leading the viewer to begin questioning their preconceived notions of what film is supposed to be.
This contention between fiction and being reality portrayed is enhanced on film further, Jackson by the comments use of real-world that‘ this is a state of fictional texts such as Carver’ s short stories the most( which determined Riggan’ Brechtian s play is to based welcome on), and detachment in the Shakespeare’ s Macbeth. Carver’ s writing is primary famous aim for seems its plain paradoxically prose style to and command presenting assent a’. 6 However, vivid snapshot of the lives of ordinary people which. However use techniques, the choice to alienate for Carver the’ s audience work to be and break from present within the film appears to be less about discuss the fictional Iñárritu’ s worlds indulgence he created in the and‘ real more’ that about leads to the detachm Carver himself. Since Carver is considered as a This literary indulgence figure of carries note, Riggan through’ s to choice the casting to of the film. In adapt his story into a play suggests his striving represented to be taken within seriously literature as, filmic an artist characters, after being have their identitie dismissed as merely a superhero actor. Carver play them’ s real-life, and vice drinking versa problem. Wood infects comments his legacy that‘ fans love to confu as a writer and is referenced by Mike Shiner roles when’. 7 It he is enters this assimilation in a rage during of character the previews with actor of that is played the play, after Riggan swaps his gin for water these.‘ I ' m ideas supposed further to and be drunk claims! This that is stars Carver‘ provide, man a! foreknowledge The guy lost a piece of liver every time he wrote critiques a page, it would! If I ' m supposed seem that to the drink looks gin, personality then bring and acting sty me fucking gin!’ 11 Earlier in the film, a journalist lend himself references to a particular the philosopher type of character Roland Barthes, genre or style. Iñárrit while interviewing Riggan, and another journalist potential by then employing asks which actors Birdman who have film strong Barthes personal ties to t appeared in. This humorous exchange illustrates playing that. Edward Iñárritu Norton is both, for aware example of Barthes, has been’ essay reported as being‘ The Death of the Author ' and yet seems to to be work ambivalent with and towards, not unlike it. His his decision character to Mike consider Shiner, has been kn the backgrounds of actors when casting and scripts to reference and interfere the personal with the life film of editing Carver process shows 9. However, M the skepticism of Barthes’ method, which blatant is to solely example focus of on this the crossover work of art of actor and not and the character. Thou context which influenced the art. 12 Birdman washed-up, a film, allows actor, the Keaton real-world’ s later influence roles to come were overshadowe to the forefront. The‘ Tomorrow and tomorrow performances’ speech from in the Macbeth Tim Burton is spoken films Beetlejuice by a man on( 1988), Batman the street in one of the few scenes which( 1992 are not). The set fact within that the Keaton theatre is. an Here actor the known fiction for is playing a super spilling out of the theatre and into the real critical world acclaim, as a since metonym his earlier of how roles the film stretches itself is the fictional reac functioning. cinematic culture. During an age in which a large proportion of cine The film has had its criticisms, some by believing superhero the film franchises too self-aware such as and the clever Marvel. For Cinematic Univer example, Jonathan Romney comments that constitutes‘ feels too cinematic knowing integrity, too immaculately, or what constitutes timed a
‘ good film’, is k a conversation between Riggan and his assistant Jake:
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Birdman or( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu( 2014, Fox Searchlight Pictures), DVD.
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Birdman or( The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), directed RIGGAN by Alejandro: Find González me an actor Iñárritu. A( 2014 good, actor. Philip Seym Fox Searchlight Pictures), DVD.
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Roland Barthes,‘ The Death of the Author’ in Image Music JAKE Text:,( London He ': s Fontana doing the, 1977 third), 142 Hunger. Games.
46 RIGGAN: Michael Fassbender? JAKE: Doing the prequel to the X-Men prequel. RIGGAN: What ' s his name? Jeremy Renner …