Lessons from Movies #1 Birdman (2014)
Lessons from Birdman
The best part about movies is that you can see the world through someone else’s eyes and get to understand people better as a whole. Films have shown me a lot of things about the world, not all of them correct since a lot of the movies are polluted with mass-media lies, but there are some gems that I want to share with you.
This is not going to be a just worthless series of movie reviews but a place from where you can get a few ideas and maybe the next time you watch one of the movies I’m talking about, you will look at it with a new set of eyes.
I will not focus on famous movies, nor on unknown ones but on films that I consider as being outstanding, films from which you can learn a few things and see past your limitations.
I have to note that these are my opinions, what I took from the movie, but I advise you to watch it yourself, maybe you will feel differently or pick up on something I missed.
Reality
I feel like Birdman is a movie that likes to play with people’s mind, ten minutes into the film and it’s already mocking the reality, mass-media values, consumerist behaviors and people that are only interested in gossip and meaningless things. Illustrated by Clara’s question “Now, is it true that you've been injecting yourself with semen from baby pigs?” who’s asking about gossip in a press meeting where the main topic is art and theater.
You can clearly see the movie references from our world like Avengers or Iron Man that set the film between our reality and the imaginary world in which Riggan has superpowers that are actually just in his mind. For me, that is an explicit reference to the fact that people construct their own realities, that they are living in a dream world.
Truth
But I think that the best scene that illustrates the fakeness and superficiality of the world is where Mike is caught up drinking on the stage. In this scene, he’s dropping a real gem that in direct relationship with the discussion from the press meeting, “Stop looking at the world through your cellphone screens. Have a real experience!”.
What he’s saying is entirely right, since throughout the movie most people are so focused on their social media life, where everything’s fake, that they forget to live life to its fullest. Also, because they are consuming mass-media nonsense nonstop, they miss the truth, and Mike even stated this through his line, “Does anybody give a shit about truth other than me?”. After which he went on a rant where he was saying that the whole set was fake, a statement that I see as a metaphor for our life and social media in general.
The gap between reality and social media is emphasized over and over again by all the main characters; it’s even seen when Riggan is arguing with his daughter, they both represent different worlds, “you, or your cynical friends whose only ambition is to go viral.”.
Existence
The dual existence of Riggan is illustrated throughout the whole film, Birdman – the comic book character - and the human. This is met in each, and every one of us, the voice that tells us that we are not capable of doing something, the voice that strengthens our insecurities and as in us, the fight between him and the Birdman is intense, both sides are fighting to take over.
After all the anxiety about reality and existence, anxiety that is presented even in the soundtrack of the movie “The Anxious Battle for Sanity”, there’s the grand final metaphorical solution to all, death, suicide, and Riggan almost kills himself, “I don't exist. I'm not even here. None of this even matters. I don't exist. I don't exist.”
Lessons Learned
I think that Birdman is a reflection of our society, people being scared of humiliation putting weight on others meaningless opinions, fame being their holy grail. There’s not a defined line between what’s real and what’s not most of the people living fake lives while valuing all the wrong stuff that got them there in the first place.
The uncertainty is so intense that they are even unsure about their existence and what that consists of, the truth being something rarely met. For me, this movie represents a fight between realities in a world of fakeness.
People should get off their asses, and start something that is real, make real connections with one another and ditch all the mediums that are destroying their brains, being authentic and genuine about their actions. That, my friend, is the most significant lesson I got from this movie.
I hope you enjoyed this post; I will see you next week. Until then, make sure to tell me below in the comments, what movie would you like to see featured here?
Authored by: guyfawkes4-20
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LOVED this movie for so many reasons: great acting, fab script, and the direction--amazing. Keaton is so angry, he is going to will himself back to relavancy. And the questions the movie raises (what's real, what's not, the ending!), really, an amazing film. I love movies about creativity and altered reality--and that's Birdman in spades! The magic bits were perfect (we all have magic powers in our own minds, right)? This is such a private little jem of a film--I know it is not accessible to a lot of folk (their loss, I think)-- I think Birdman should inspire conversation for years to come.
Exactly, it's an inspiring movie, I always love to watch something like it. Just wait till you see the next movie from the series, outstanding.
I think it's a good movie that focussed on a situation many of us can relate to: when times are rough, one can't help but remember past laurels, but at the same time come to terms with how things have somehow changed.
Keaton is the perfect actor to play the part given his past performance as Batman in the 80's.
The movie reminded me of The Black Swan in ways. Emma Stone in particular absolutely blew me away by her moving performance in the film. I can see why the movie critics like this move, as well. Liked itWow. It feels good to know that my favorite for 2014 or rather the decade was reviewed here on @adsactly. Awesome review. Although i saw it in 2015. So many lessons to learn from.
I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the review. I saw it quite a couple of times, I can't remember when it was the first time.
I will make sure to check out that movie, maybe I'll write about it, but not yet since I already have a few other great ones in mind.
I haven't watched this movie yet, but I will definitely do that now, because I'm always up for such movies. I have been talking about social media to all my friends. How it screws with our psychology and interactions with each other, how we seek recognition in the forms of likes and shares. Whenever I go out with my friends I always tell my friends to get they faces out of the phones, because there's no communication, nobody talks anything interesting at all. If you remove the phone from someone's hand, they immediately start to talk about something. Social media and smartphones in general are doing a lot of harm when it comes to human relationships.
By the way, it would be really cool if you featured "Mr. Nobody" in the next movie post. It raises a lot of questions about reality as well.
It's not even that social media is necessary bad, but the way people use it because most are just abusing it.
Amazing suggestion, I'm already working on Mr. Nobody, I think it will be the third post from the series.
Yes, social media is like a tool. Every tool has good and bad usages. For example, a hammer is a tool, you can fix things with it, thus it has a good usage. But you can use the same hammer to smash someone's head with it, but does not mean that a hammer is a bad tool just because you used it in a wrong way. The same thing with social medias. It's a tool that most people use it in the wrong way and abuse it, which makes social medias appear like some sort of social life destroyer.
Exactly, and it's the same thing with Cryptocurrencies too, some can use them in a malicious way and others can use them to send money to their families for free. :)
I saw this movie and it was a really good movie , I had just begun following Emma stone then and she delivered a master piece.
I think we all have a lot to learn from this movie. No matter the success we are experiencing at the moment, it is important that we prepare ourselves as it is not going to last forever
Byrdman certainly can be called one of the best films of last year. This film reflects all the vices of our modern society. Modern people are very much concerned about their fake life in the media. This is bad, because that's why such people do not live a full life. Their minds are locked in obscene opinion and they behave like puppets.
The main characters perfectly show us this life gap. In the end which leads to the thought that everything around is unreal and the best solution is suicide, death.
The most important moral is to get rid of the shackles that shackle your brains (opinions, media, etc.)
Thanks for the chic post
I would like to see the film Matrix, it has a profound meaning
Thank you for this great comment. That is what people have to do, to get rid of their shackles but the worst part is not that they have no idea how but that they don't know they have to.
The Matrix, that's a great suggestion, I will consider it after I finish those already planned.
One of the best films in the last few years!
Nice idea ... keep up with more movies .. I wish you shed light on “PK” it’s one of my best avorite movies for the last 5 years
Yes PK is a fantastic film, and one of the best Bollywood films out there. Anyone who hasn't seen it and has the slightest interest in Bollywood should watch it.
We became 2 😆✌️
😂😂
Great
That was such a great movie!
This is a Very well thought out deconstruction of this Film.
Its interesting that you point out the seemingly, unapparent chasm between the virtual and real....or more to the point, the actual*
As you say, the non-sensable layers the whole movie is in your face, its like a Bad Fun House at the fair, but nobody has the needed clarity to find the exit to reality.
I thought about the rest of your commentary on this film which is like decrypting the deeper Iconography and I realized Ed Norton is in (Fight Club) as well, where he lives a split life as a broken down consumer and an (unconcious) wild anti-consumerist Tyler.@adstactly
He shows everyone how much they hate themselves for being duped into a meaningless life...all the way up the conditioning latter, without a very needed catharsis for all that oppression and repression....which to me represents itself litterally beating the s**t out each other. In the end his choice is suicide as well...poor guy if he only waited for Steemit!
Jezze you got me typing an article here, lol...you inspired me!
Also, I signed up on your discord, but are having trouble with it,
Thanks for the follow wow.
Lynn
Thanks a lot, I am glad my post inspired you to write this comment. I have Fight Club on my list too, I will most certainly write about it in the future, is one of my favorites. :)
I would like to hear your interpretation of Fight Club,
Its one of my favs as well.
Thank you for your vote.
L
It will come at some point for sure. I watched the movie and read the book countless times so far. :)
@adsactly Indeed, the film was a perfect fusion of dark humour, quirkiness, surreality, and raw emotion which we can all relate to; these elements permeate our psyches, whether we like it or not. And Keaton's simultaneous embodiment of Everyman and Noman soars in the collective imagination.
Thank you, I am happy you feel the same, the movie was a masterpiece indeed.
You got it right! And it's a great lesson too - that people should be real and quit being fake. I call them masquerades - they wear masks to cover the harrowing turmoil, moral deficit, spiritual hunger and human disconnect that is running riot within yet present a corporate, sophisticated facade. Great thanks for a well-written analysis.
Thank you. That is well said man, great comment. :)
This is the first one of these posts that I came across but I will definitely be checking out the others! This is a great movie and well done with life lessons.
Awesome movie you shared. Have true factor of the movie. There is an anxiety about reality, existence, anxiety all present in the movie. resteem and upvoted. Thanks for sharing
Upvote me @irwansyah883
I already watching this movie, This awesome movie Thanks for this review.
Well its nice movie and thanks for update of wonderful post. I like it all the best @adsactly
This movies so... good, i like this movies. and also good funny. i want your next post for sharing us, all the best my dear
Great movie and great post.
Birdman was great, but more showmanship, less nuanced... There will be many more films like Birdman, maybe not as great as Birdman, but there will be more. What struck us about Birdman is the drumbeats- yes, the screenplay, yes emma stone and keaton, yes the cinematography, but the drumbeats were overpowering!! But there won't be another Boyhood or unlikely (just as there can't be another Cries and Whispers or Psycho or Persona or Apocalypse Now or Pulp Fiction or Meghe Dhaka Tara)- it is one of its kind- it is joyous, it is life, more often than not!! Yes, Birdman is awesome, it rouses you, the drumbeats are ecstatic. But Boyhood lives with you as if Linklater struck into all of us, to get our secrets, our childhoods, our joys, our insecurities. Birdman doesn't do that. Linklater has a special skill. He knows his kind, and the human joys and follies. Innaritu is a superb filmmaker but he is a tad superficial- he is in a hurry to give and take. Linklater is not. He is willing to search, to find, to give- that kind of filmmaking is special. Boyhood is special!!..
Yeah, Birdman is unique. I loved the soundtrack so much that sometimes I'm writing my posts listening to it because it's inspiring.
I will look into the movies you just mentioned, I watched some of them but that was a long time ago. :)
yeah good movie
Really loved this movie. Thanks for the reminder..
Awesome movie, just get real and be authentic.
I think you should do Black Mirror. Its a great one.
First of all, this movie is not a comedy, but this mistake in the introduction information needs to be corrected, maybe a fantastic drama. Secondly, the "motion blessed" viewers can not find anything they want in this film, they look at the imdb score and they fill out the comments and then fill the comments with nonsense. The real cinematographers are not to miss, an exquisite movie. The final is a complete opposite corner, where you think you watch a schizophrenic drama for 2 hours, leaving you with the fact that you're watching a fantastic movie, with the smile of a beautiful girl's smile.
narritu went to michael keaton and said that your brother said your filmini shots. I mean, the hani, you are now the batman, so there is nothing to be touched or hah, we should do it as a bird in the movie, not the batman. This movie is also a chance for you to end up on the end of it. If you keep it, you keep on wondering forever I said put it in the oscar 's. That's all it is.
the film is beautiful but you do not have to exaggerate. 21 ounces, amores perros, biutiful. not the guy who pulled it. You filmed an american movie you knew was gone. we love you for your non-american movies you know you inarritu. @adsactly
still in the process of figuring out what is the movie about.
I agree our age sickness social media.an asocial youth grows up who does not leave the phone at hand until all the damage is done from morning to evening.
It's a very good and best action movie. I'll watch it again.
This is a wonderful movie,
I like it,
This article gives additional info about the movue.
Thanx a lot.
GREAT MOVIE!!!
yup. some movies are really informative . thanks for sharing
wow, the content of this post is sooouch, the inention to relay the lessons were told very good. me myself is a movie fan specially when i was single haha, but yeah you're right nowadays lots of people is sometimea contaminated with social media gadgets games, like forgetting the real life, as the saying goes, "once you put down your phone, life happens " 👍❤️❤️❤️
information technology, especially social media very big impact in the form behavior real life everyone. However, recent impression that there, social media as a Forest (freedom digital), where everyone indeed be smart be a user, if not, it will be easily affected current opinion negative, or even he own unwittingly be a part of the distribution of news negative it sediri.flm you watch a nice.
Birdman amazing move
one of my favorite things about steemit so far are the random movie reviews of past movies, its good for me because I prefer to watch movies at home for free.
Wow Great article with great images.
i am the movie lover but didnt watch this movie.Thanks for adding this movie on the cart and voted for witness
wow.. this movie is interesting, is this movie available at YouTube or at the other site sir?
Ive watched this movie and I must agree that it has an intense scenes, the question of your existence versus the reality, truth and lies..
Now I know what are the next movies I will watch now!!Never seen these movies!!But now will have look to them!! Lets see how they are !!
The movie I love to switch camera. it is often very popular or hated by itself. at least that's what I heard and read about until now. it was a great pleasure for me to see my childhood batman trying to be re-born or more 'right again' by Michael Keaton. besides, edward norton's presence in the film was a big deal for the film itself.@adsactly
This awesome movie, Thanks for this review.
Sounds like a movie with some depth, a rare commodity these days.
Great to see These amazing Reviews
If you love such movies you should deffinitely give a try to " man from the earth". I find it fascinating and i think you might enjoy it. :)
Upvoted
I think,
Reality was main fact of this movie
Rank of this movie imd 7.8 of 10
awesom post
Birdman is one of the best movies I've seen in years. A lot of my friends hated it
Great to see this