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- Michael Keaton’s Mainstream Roles Begin to Dry Up
- The Hollywood Satire in Michael Keaton’s Birdman
- Birdman Led to Critical and Box Office Success for Michael Keaton
As a seasoned observer of the world of Hollywood, I must say that Michael Keaton’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. The man has been a constant presence in our movie screens for decades, and yet, he continues to captivate us with his versatility and passion.
Based on a recent interview, Michael Keaton prefers not to label his role in the 2014 satirical comedy “Birdman” as a comeback, but it’s clear that the film marked a significant revival in the actor’s career. His powerful performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for the first time, and since some of his prominent roles had dwindled before then, he started appearing in mainstream and high-profile projects, cementing his status in Hollywood.
As a keen observer, it’s clear that Keaton might not have explicitly requested a comeback, yet the profound impact of “Birdman” on both the film’s theme and his increasing visibility on the silver screen has undeniably propelled his professional growth significantly.
Michael Keaton’s Mainstream Roles Begin to Dry Up
In the wake of the triumph of “Batman,” I found myself occupied with a diverse range of characters, including those in the gripping thriller “Pacific Heights” and the poignant drama “My Life.” Notably, I reprised my role as Bruce Wayne in “Batman Returns.” However, by the mid-’90s, my films started to receive less favorable responses from both audiences and critics, such as “Speechless,” “Multiplicity,” “Jack Frost,” and “Desperate Measures.” Even collaborating with Quentin Tarantino in “Jackie Brown” couldn’t save me from this trend. The subsequent roles I took on, including “First Daughter,” “White Noise,” and “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” were also met with a lukewarm response. Despite my busy schedule during this period, I wasn’t able to recapture the box office success of “Batman,” and my more mainstream roles started to diminish in number.
Despite his contributions to blockbusters like Cars and Toy Story 3, it was in 2014’s Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) that Michael Keaton truly experienced a comeback. This film, a witty dark comedy directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, saw Keaton playing Riggan Thomson, a once-famous actor who had starred as the superhero Birdman in a series of films from 1989 to 1992. The similarities between this role and aspects of Keaton’s own life are undeniable.
One would probably never say he was washed up, even when appearing in lesser material, but he was famous for playing a superhero during a tenure that began with 1989’s Batman and concluded with 1992’s Batman Returns. The movie depicts Riggan trying to stage a comeback by writing, directing and starring in a Broadway adaptation of the short story What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver and the pratfalls that come along with securing the proper comeback, especially alongside his mocking internal monologue that comes to him as the Birdman character, his recovering drug addict daughter and assistant Sam (Emma Stone), his lawyer and best friend Jake (Zach Galifianakis), who is also producing the play and method actor, Mike Shiner (Edward Norton).
The Hollywood Satire in Michael Keaton’s Birdman
In a thoughtful and engaging manner, Birdman subtly explores the ups and downs of Hollywood life, demonstrating how the glamour and adoration can swiftly turn into criticism and self-doubt as the limelight fades. The character Riggan serves to illustrate the struggle of being one’s own worst critic, a battle that Keaton’s performance suggests he may understand intimately, lending depth and authenticity to his portrayal in the film.
Birdman showcases some of the actor’s best work in years, drawing on his comedic talents that first brought him stardom while not shying away from the complexity of the character. After enjoying success for a while, it can be disconcerting to lose that secure grip on it. Birdman is primarily humorous, but it also touches upon the challenges some actors face in maintaining their fame and the lengths they might go to recapture that sense of satisfaction.
As a movie critic, I can confidently say that the acclaim for Birdman left me utterly elated. Critics across the board were unanimous in their praise, hailing it as nothing short of a “century-defining comeback.” Richard Roeper even went so far as to suggest that my performance merited an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The chorus of approval grew louder, and soon enough, the whispers of Oscar nominations became a palpable reality.
Birdman Led to Critical and Box Office Success for Michael Keaton
Following its release, Birdman achieved both commercial and critical acclaim, earning over $103 million globally on a production budget of just $18 million. During the award season, it was highly praised, with Michael Keaton playing a significant role in this recognition. His performance earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, although he didn’t take home the statuette. However, he did win his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy category, and also secured a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award as the film’s cast received the award for Outstanding Cast Performance. Furthermore, Birdman was nominated for several other awards, ultimately winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards.
As a passionate cinephile, I couldn’t help but feel the warmth of success from my role in “Birdman” almost instantly. The year after, I found myself cast as Walter V. Robinson in Tom McCarthy’s critically praised drama, “Spotlight.” Surrounded by an incredibly talented ensemble, including Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, and Liev Schreiber, I gave it my all.
Stepping back into the world of superheroes after a brief hiatus, I found myself donning the wings of Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture, in the blockbuster hit “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. This film was a triumphant return for our friendly neighborhood web-slinger, raking in an impressive $880.2 million globally and receiving a staggering 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. My portrayal of Toomes was met with widespread acclaim, particularly the pivotal moment when I discovered that the young man taking my daughter to the dance was none other than Spider-Man, played brilliantly by Tom Holland.
In the UPROXX critique, critic Mike Ryan pointed out that Michael Keaton delivers an outstanding performance as the villainous Adrian Toomes in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. He particularly highlighted a pivotal scene where Peter Parker and Adrian Toomes’ relationship is clarified, and it’s masterfully executed by both Keaton and Holland. This scene, according to him, is among his favorite moments from any Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film.
As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the consistent acting work that Keaton has been graced with throughout his illustrious career. However, it seems that he took issue when the industry labeled Birdman as his “comeback vehicle.” During the promotional tour for the wildly successful Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, where Keaton once again shone as a critical and box office darling, he openly discussed the buzz surrounding Birdman and elucidated why, in his view, it wasn’t a comeback.
“A really, really, really, smart guy, a guy I liked a lot, said, ‘Comeback’ – that’s the story. I went, ‘Honestly, it’s kind of bullsh*t…I thought I could make that story up, but I knew I’m going to be bullshitt*ng every time I talk about it. By the way, I know business. I like business. Doesn’t bother me. You go, ‘This is a business, man, If you get desperate, you’re f***ed. Don’t ever get desperate. You can get insecure and nervous, and go, ‘Wow, boy, I’m not doing so great right now.’ But when you get desperate, you are dead.”
As a movie enthusiast, I’d like to share my thoughts on the captivating film “Birdman.” It wasn’t so much a comeback for Michael Keaton as it was an opportunity for him to shine once more. You see, he never truly left Hollywood; instead, he continued his craft, a fact most would envy.
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2024-10-13 02:01