Two-Movie Tuesday: Birdbird

What to do with that bird in our heads, the one that longs for individual freedom and fulfillment but also for love and a sense of belonging?

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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Keaton, Norton, and Stone all put forth amazing performances that scream/squawk for their close-up shots, while the mesmerizing long-take cinematography creates an incredible and unique pace for the film, pulling you right along with the characters like an eagle chasing a fish on a line. The ending’s a little cheesy and there are a couple side plots that feel unnecessary but the film still stands as a wonderful work of art about art, integrity and ego (“I’m trying to do something important”).

9

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Lady Bird (2017)

By and large just a marvelously shot, scored, written, and acted roller-coaster ride through snippets of angsty and authentic-feeling teen life with as much great humour (too-cool Kyle is a one-liner gold mine: “I’m trying to live by bartering alone”) as feisty drama (mother and daughter are the highlight here; see their opening exchange in the car) and feel-good moments (see the girls at prom). The slower scenes (see post-sex) feel a little awkward in comparison, but maybe that’s the point.

8

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Would love to hear your thoughts on this week’s pair of movies:

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In the words of songbird Nelly Furtado, “it’s not that I wanna say goodbye,” but I’ve got to fly away for now.