A fading actor best known for his portrayal of a popular superhero attempts to mount a comeback by appearing in a Broadway play. As opening night approaches, his attempts to become more altruistic, rebuild his career, and reconnect with friends and family prove more difficult than expected.
Michael Keaton
Riggan
Emma Stone
Sam
Zach Galifianakis
Jake
Edward Norton
Mike
Andrea Riseborough
Laura
Naomi Watts
Lesley
Amy Ryan
Sylvia
Lindsay Duncan
Tabitha
Merritt Wever
Annie
Jeremy Shamos
Ralph
Damian Young
Gabriel
Kenny Chin
Korean Grocer
Jamahl Garrison-Lowe
Daniel (Stagehand)
Katherine O'Sullivan
Costume Assistant
Keenan Shimizu
Han
Akira Ito
Translator
Natalie Gold
Clara
Michael Siberry
Larry
Clark Middleton
Sydney
William Youmans
Bartender (Tommy)
Paula Pell
Lady in Bar
David Fierro
Man in Bar
Hudson Flynn
Kid in Bar (Billy)
Warren Kelley
Dresser
Joel Marsh Garland
Stagehand
Brent Bateman
Broadway Tourist
Donna Lynne Champlin
Broadway Lady
Valentino Musumeci
Broadway Kid
Taylor Schwencke
Broadway Kid
Craig muMs Grant
Broadway Man on Street
Kyle Knauf
Annoying Times Square Guy
Dave Neal
Annoying Times Square Guy
Kelly Southerland
Annoying Times Square Guy
Roberta Colindrez
Broadway Woman on Street
Catherine Peppers
Cashier
Frank Ridley
Mr. Roth
Janis Corsair
Female Usher
Rakesh G. Shah
Liquor Store Owner
Bill Camp
Crazy Man
Malachi Weir
Guy in Window
Jackie Hoffman
Lady on Balcony (Mary)
Stephen Adly Guirgis
Good Neighbor
Glenn Wein
Young Male Usher
Ebrahim Jaffer
Cab Driver
Rain Noe
Intermission Man
Susan Blackwell
Intermission Woman
Anna Hardwick
Blonde Reporter
Dusan Dukic
Newscaster
Helena-Alexis Seymour
Newscaster
Ian Finlay
Newscaster
Lynn Marocola
Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Paugh Shadow
Theater Guard (uncredited)
Director, Writer
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Short Story
Raymond Carver
Writer
Armando Bo
Writer
Nicolás Giacobone
Writer
Alexander Dinelaris
February 4, 2015
**mounting spontaneity** or (dumb luck)
It's not fair.
I love Raymond Carver, long takes, theatre, Batman, NYC rooftops and alleyways, the blending layers of self-referential fiction, delirious fantasy, the creative process, the insane logistics of run-on cinematography, the seamless assembly of shifting environments, stepping into unresolved mental spaces, demonstrations of solitary madness and the unbearable anticipation of being, being judged, being booed, un-being, unhinging, delusional uppers, existential downers, magic surrealism, telekinetic fury, dreams of flying, throwing tantrums, the fragile yet invincible ego, immaculately constructed chaos, the recurring climax of ending it all -- where the blazes is that blasted improvisational drumming coming from? -- oh there, and there, so absurd, don't stop, the shot must go on, the show must go on, "You are not important, get used to it," she said, but so much angst overwhelms him, tethered to a feathered fantasy, a nagging reminder of what once was, or could have been, refusing to believe it's too late to soar to former heights, yet grounded by time and gravity, trapped in a narrative, caged in a fabrication, "You're an actress, honey," says another, "you have no self-respect" and all actors are game, Keaton and Stone zoned-in, knowing the pain, pretending to not care or pretending to matter, failing to be authentic, acting over acting, meta-acting meta-fiction meta-filmed with a meta-critical message: yeah, we're all messed-up and meta-fµcked, but after shooting your nose to spite the ruse, by unmasking the unexpected virtue of ignorance, peeling off layers of pretense and self-importance, you just might find a momentary strain of pure, uncomplicated innocence.
It's not fair. I love this sh*t!