Michael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His Comeback

Michael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His Comeback

As a seasoned cinephile who’s seen more films than I care to count, I must say that Michael Keaton‘s career trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. Contrary to popular belief, his critically acclaimed performance in Birdman was not a comeback, but rather a continuation of an already illustrious career. It’s like saying the sun rising in the east is a new dawn – it’s just how things are supposed to be.


The film titled “Birdman” or “BiRDMAN (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” is often associated with bringing Michael Keaton, famously known for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, back into the limelight. However, it seems more accurate to say that this movie propelled him even deeper into the spotlight, given that A-lister like Keaton was never truly absent. To Keaton himself, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film is not a comeback but merely another significant addition to his career.

Ten years after the premiere of “Birdman,” the actor recently spoke with GQ about the film. Contrary to speculation, he bluntly denied the notion that the movie marked a resurgence in his career, labeling it as “nonsense.” His exact words were:

“An incredibly intelligent individual, someone I held in high regard, stated, ‘That’s the comeback.’ I replied, ‘ frankly, that sounds quite far-fetched.’ I considered crafting a comeback story, but I knew I would be stretching the truth each time I discussed it.”

“By the way,” Keaton mentioned, “I have a lot of experience with business and I enjoy it. It doesn’t faze me in any way.” He continued, using a casual tone, “You might think, ‘This is a business,’ but I remain calm, even when things slow down.” In his words of wisdom, he added, “If you find yourself getting desperate, you’re in trouble. Never let desperation take hold. You can feel insecure and anxious, thinking, ‘Wow, this isn’t going so well right now.’ But if you become desperate, you’ve lost.”

Michael Keaton Never Flew Away

Michael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His ComebackMichael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His ComebackMichael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His ComebackMichael Keaton Has a Profane & Blunt Take on Birdman Being His Comeback

To put it simply, it’s tough to argue against the fact that the film ignited a sequence of both critically acclaimed masterpieces and box office sensations. For instance, following the film, I was part of the ensemble cast for Oscar contender Spotlight, which was released a year later. Then, I played Ramsey Clark in The Trial of the Chicago 7, and more recently, I portrayed McDonald’s CEO Ray Kroc in The Founder. In terms of large-scale productions, my roles after Birdman include the fittingly ironic character of Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Morbius, as well as parts in other big-budget movies like Dumbo and The Flash.

Michael Keaton had a history of appearing in smaller roles and less prominent films before “Birdman.” After 2009’s “The Merry Gentlemen,” his roles were mostly minor ones for about five years, but he consistently shone in these projects, as seen in his amusing and intense performances in “The Other Guys” and “RoboCop.” However, it’s important to note that Keaton has been the main star of theatrical films since the early ’80s, so his career isn’t like John Travolta’s sudden decline.

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2024-08-22 06:31