Michael Keaton plays an actor who’s struggling to mount his Broadway debut. In addition to the challenges of the show and confrontations with his family, he’s in constant conflict with the shadow of the superhero that made him a star. As expected, Keaton is outstanding, but the rest of the cast turns in rich and nuanced performances (Emma Stone is a revelation). What makes this film so brilliant is director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s inspired vision. It’s shot as one continuous take, which is not only a tech challenge, but creates a sense of fluid time and continuous stress. (Shooting directly into a mirror was pretty cool, too. Read about the efx here). A slightly surreal, constantly compelling and richly realized combination of personal drama and theatrical send-up.
(4.5 / 5)