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Birdman

 Birdman
type
TVTItem
 Birdman
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Birdman
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Birdman
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Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Birdman, or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), is a 2014 black comedy-drama film directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu and starring Michael Keaton, with Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts in supporting roles.It follows Riggan Thomson (Keaton), a washed-up actor best known for playing the superhero Birdman in a series of movies, as he tries to revive his career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver's short story What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.Along the way, he faces various difficulties both on and off stage, as he battles his own ego (and alter ego), a narcissistic actor (Norton) who attempts to wrestle control away from Riggan, and a critic hell-bent on destroying the production, while attempting to repair his relationship with his family, in particular his daughter Sam (Stone).Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Notable talking points for the film included its original music consisting entirely of solo jazz drums, its score being infamously disqualified from Oscar consideration for including classical music, and the fact that it's largely structured to appear as if it was filmed in one continuous take. (Even with this effect being achieved through editing, the film still has only several dozen visible cuts and required takes of 10-15 minutes in length.)Not to be confused with the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series from the '60s or the satirical show which had said cartoon's hero take up law practice or the Japanese comic of a similar name. Or the rapper. Or that bird themed skateboarder who inspired a line of skateboarding video games.
 Birdman
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2022-01-13T15:09:12Z
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2022-01-13T15:09:12Z
 Birdman
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Downplayed
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DBTropes
 Birdman / int_120d0e3f
type
Adam Westing
 Birdman / int_120d0e3f
comment
Adam Westing: Quite a few. Riggan's history as "the guy who played Birdman two decades ago" is similar to Michael Keaton's portrayal of Batman. Edward Norton plays a brilliant but difficult method actor, similar to his own reputation, and also echoes himself in Fight Club.
 Birdman / int_120d0e3f
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1.0
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_120d0e3f
 Birdman / int_12b1f5f3
type
No Such Thing as Bad Publicity
 Birdman / int_12b1f5f3
comment
No Such Thing as Bad Publicity: In-Universe. After accidentally locking himself out of the St. James, Riggan is forced to scurry through Times Square in his underwear in order to get back in. The show gets tons of free promotion.
 Birdman / int_12b1f5f3
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1.0
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Birdman / int_12b1f5f3
 Birdman / int_14180452
type
Instantly Proven Wrong
 Birdman / int_14180452
comment
Instantly Proven Wrong: Mike insults Riggan saying that most people don't care about him as an actor. Cue a fan of Riggan's approaching from behind asking to be photographed together with him.
 Birdman / int_14180452
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1.0
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Birdman / int_14180452
 Birdman / int_1420a9b8
type
Scenery Censor
 Birdman / int_1420a9b8
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Scenery Censor: When Mike Shiner poses nude in front of a mirror, his best part is covered by a chairback.
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1.0
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Birdman / int_1420a9b8
 Birdman / int_16364a29
type
Evil Sounds Deep
 Birdman / int_16364a29
comment
Evil Sounds Deep: Riggan's Birdman persona is a Guttural Growler.
 Birdman / int_16364a29
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1.0
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Birdman / int_16364a29
 Birdman / int_170128e9
type
Right Behind Me
 Birdman / int_170128e9
comment
Right Behind Me: Leslie doesn't want Sam to hear her bad-mouthing her to Mike.
 Birdman / int_170128e9
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1.0
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Birdman / int_170128e9
 Birdman / int_17a969de
type
No OSHA Compliance
 Birdman / int_17a969de
comment
No OSHA Compliance: Hospital windows — especially the ones with a large drop outside — don't open. Riggan also doesn't seem to be connected to any monitors. Which supports the idea the ending is all a dream as Riggan is lying in bed.
 Birdman / int_17a969de
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1.0
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Birdman / int_17a969de
 Birdman / int_1869b4b1
type
Unreliable Narrator
 Birdman / int_1869b4b1
comment
Unreliable Narrator: Riggan seems to believe he has superpowers, but evidence throughout the movie points to the idea that the audience is merely seeing his hallucinations.
 Birdman / int_1869b4b1
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1.0
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Birdman / int_1869b4b1
 Birdman / int_188802c0
type
Spurned into Suicide
 Birdman / int_188802c0
comment
Spurned into Suicide: In the Show Within a Show, Riggan plays a character that commits suicide because his wife doesn't love him anymore.
 Birdman / int_188802c0
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1.0
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Birdman / int_188802c0
 Birdman / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Birdman / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: "The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance" appears as a newspaper headline at the very end of the film. In-Universe. The play's title "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" is namedropped at the end of Act I. During his meltdown at the rehearsal, Mike says, about the fried chicken on stage: "That's a nice bird, man!".
 Birdman / int_18d15922
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1.0
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_18d15922
 Birdman / int_19ebe383
type
Never Trust a Trailer
 Birdman / int_19ebe383
comment
Never Trust a Trailer: Watching the trailer, you might be forgiven for thinking that Riggan is a former real superhero who starred in films about himself, not a regular actor who might simply be delusional. Many of the shots in the trailer are, even considering the ambiguous nature of Riggan's powers, certainly just in his head.
 Birdman / int_19ebe383
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_19ebe383
 Birdman / int_1a237409
type
Order Versus Chaos
 Birdman / int_1a237409
comment
Order Versus Chaos: Sylvia vs. Riggan (and everyone else). In the end, everybody praises Riggan's performance, whereas she (and Sam) are the only ones who actually give a damn about his health and safety.
 Birdman / int_1a237409
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1.0
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Birdman / int_1a237409
 Birdman / int_1e7487cd
type
Breaking the Fourth Wall
 Birdman / int_1e7487cd
comment
Breaking the Fourth Wall: During a brief, explosive action sequence, Birdman looks directly into the camera and says, "Look at how their eyes light up. People, they love this shit. They love blood. They love action. Not this talky, depressing, philosophical bullshit."
 Birdman / int_1e7487cd
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1.0
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Birdman / int_1e7487cd
 Birdman / int_1fa5ae07
type
The Prima Donna
 Birdman / int_1fa5ae07
comment
Mike is a total prima donna and all around Jerkass, but occasionally he shows a softer, more likable side, mostly when he's with Sam.
 Birdman / int_1fa5ae07
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1.0
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Birdman / int_1fa5ae07
 Birdman / int_20c99f6e
type
Hidden Heart of Gold
 Birdman / int_20c99f6e
comment
Hidden Heart of Gold: Mike is a total prima donna and all around Jerkass, but occasionally he shows a softer, more likable side, mostly when he's with Sam.
 Birdman / int_20c99f6e
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1.0
 Birdman / int_20c99f6e
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_20c99f6e
 Birdman / int_222dc873
type
Black Comedy
 Birdman / int_222dc873
comment
Black Comedy: Riggan's life after the Birdman trilogy is an utter mess, and the film takes equal time making light of this as it does playing it for drama.
 Birdman / int_222dc873
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1.0
 Birdman / int_222dc873
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Birdman / int_222dc873
 Birdman / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 Birdman / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: Mike demanding that they get a more realistic-looking prop gun. Riggan complies by bringing an actual gun on opening night and, in a fit of depression, tries to blow his head off. He fails.
 Birdman / int_22cf536c
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1.0
 Birdman / int_22cf536c
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_22cf536c
 Birdman / int_234fa9ba
type
May–December Romance
 Birdman / int_234fa9ba
comment
May–December Romance: Riggan appears to be much older than his girlfriend Laura. There's a significant age-gap of about 18 years between the actors. The exact same situation happens with Sam and Mike and their actors also have an age gap of about 19 years as well. For that matter, the kiss, and potential future romance, between Laura and Lesley borders on this trope, as the two actresses have an age gap of 13 years.
 Birdman / int_234fa9ba
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1.0
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Birdman / int_234fa9ba
 Birdman / int_24321e44
type
Only Sane Man
 Birdman / int_24321e44
comment
Only Sane Man: Sylvia is the only character whose actions and responses both during the movie and backstory are fairly rational. Subverted with Sam, who is the only other major character who doesn't suffer some extreme personal breakdown during the movie, but had severe psychological and emotional distress in backstory that still affects her (it's that sort of movie). At the same time though, as someone who only acts as an assistant during the production, she acts as this to the more egotistic actors.
 Birdman / int_24321e44
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-0.3
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1.0
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Birdman / int_24321e44
 Birdman / int_26206ed7
type
"Spread Wings" Frame Shot
 Birdman / int_26206ed7
comment
"Spread Wings" Frame Shot: Riggan is a washed-up actor who imagines his most famous role, the superhero Birdman, as a critical voice in his head. At one point, Riggan is walking on the street and now sees Birdman as a visible figure, who flies up behind him and for a second makes him look as if he has wings◊.
 Birdman / int_26206ed7
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1.0
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Birdman / int_26206ed7
 Birdman / int_294ed981
type
Bilingual Bonus
 Birdman / int_294ed981
comment
Bilingual Bonus: People who understand Gujarati know that the cab driver who walks into the theater after Riggan's flight scene is saying that Riggan didn't pay for his ride and is demanding his fare. It is made visually clear when he walks out later, money in hand.
 Birdman / int_294ed981
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1.0
 Birdman / int_294ed981
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_294ed981
 Birdman / int_2b1db021
type
Flight Is the Final Power
 Birdman / int_2b1db021
comment
Flight Is the Final Power: Riggan Thompson is shown using telekinetic powers to levitate himself and other objects several times, but when he jumps off a building near the end he finally uses his power to make himself fly dreamily over Broadway (although it's very possible his powers are just in his head).
 Birdman / int_2b1db021
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1.0
 Birdman / int_2b1db021
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_2b1db021
 Birdman / int_2b65aa76
type
Straw Critic
 Birdman / int_2b65aa76
comment
Ironically, Tabitha's existence seems to be directly mocking critics who automatically dismiss anything animated or comic-book-based for not qualifying as "real art."invoked
 Birdman / int_2b65aa76
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1.0
 Birdman / int_2b65aa76
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Birdman / int_2b65aa76
 Birdman / int_2dc0d2bf
type
Hidden Depths
 Birdman / int_2dc0d2bf
comment
Hidden Depths: Riggan may seem like a bit of a hack at first, but he does demonstrate genuine talent at several points. Additionally, during his vicious rant to Tabitha his mentions of craft and technique shows that he has much more respect towards art and thought to his approach of it than you might expect from someone whose main focus in his play is making a Career Resurrection.
 Birdman / int_2dc0d2bf
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1.0
 Birdman / int_2dc0d2bf
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_2dc0d2bf
 Birdman / int_30d4f2a
type
Narcissist
 Birdman / int_30d4f2a
comment
Narcissist Mike Shiner is a pompous actor who loves to flaunt how much better he is than those around him. Riggan is somewhat of a Downplayed example. While his show reeks of being a Vanity Project, he's deeply insecure of himself as both a a professional and a person.
 Birdman / int_30d4f2a
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1.0
 Birdman / int_30d4f2a
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_30d4f2a
 Birdman / int_31df118
type
Attention Whore
 Birdman / int_31df118
comment
Mike Shiner. He's self-centered, rude, and an Attention Whore to boot! Unfortunately, he's also usually right.
 Birdman / int_31df118
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_31df118
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_31df118
 Birdman / int_3358987f
type
Dancing Bear
 Birdman / int_3358987f
comment
Dancing Bear: In-Universe, Riggan's Bungled Suicide ends up earning the play a lot of attention and accolades that it wasn't getting earlier. In-line with how meta the film is, a lot of people had this view about the Long Take feature.
 Birdman / int_3358987f
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1.0
 Birdman / int_3358987f
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_3358987f
 Birdman / int_37cb353b
type
Ate His Gun
 Birdman / int_37cb353b
comment
In the play, Lesley's former lover Ate His Gun but survived.
 Birdman / int_37cb353b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_37cb353b
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_37cb353b
 Birdman / int_392372f9
type
Actor Allusion
 Birdman / int_392372f9
comment
Actor Allusion: Obviously, there's Michael Keaton as an actor famous for playing a superhero. Less obviously, there's the fact that he, like his character, essentially disappeared from the public eye after he stopped playing a superhero. Edward Norton is known for being a hot-headed perfectionist method actor known for taking control away from directors. And he plays one too! Norton's character in the film is said to have just left a big project, which might be a nod to him not continuing playing the Hulk beyond one film, especially since this comes right after Riggan rattles a list of actors he would like to get, and several of them are tied up shooting superhero films.
 Birdman / int_392372f9
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 Birdman / int_392372f9
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Birdman / int_392372f9
 Birdman / int_3e5f74c
type
Take That, Critics!
 Birdman / int_3e5f74c
comment
Take That, Critics!: During the brief moment where we see Riggan imagining explosions and a bird monster, Birdman's comments seem to be pointing fingers directly at the viewers. Additionally, it's somewhat of a pre-emptive snark considering it's one of those movies that has a bunch of negative public reviews labeling it "pretentious rubbish."
 Birdman / int_3e5f74c
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1.0
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_3e5f74c
 Birdman / int_40582f4b
type
Guttural Growler
 Birdman / int_40582f4b
comment
Guttural Growler: Birdman. He speaks to Riggan in a deep, growling voice that's reminiscent of Batman. Keaton described it in an interview as a "bastardization" of his Batman voice.
 Birdman / int_40582f4b
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1.0
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_40582f4b
 Birdman / int_42215dce
type
Ambiguous Ending
 Birdman / int_42215dce
comment
Ambiguous Ending: The film could've ended a multitude of ways, mostly considering some of the film takes place in Riggan's mind. It all depends on whether or not his powers are real.
 Birdman / int_42215dce
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_42215dce
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_42215dce
 Birdman / int_43a831db
type
Epic Tracking Shot
 Birdman / int_43a831db
comment
Epic Tracking Shot: Half-way through the movie, a tracking shot moves from the street right through the bars of a balcony banister into Riggan's dressing room.
 Birdman / int_43a831db
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1.0
 Birdman / int_43a831db
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Birdman / int_43a831db
 Birdman / int_46754750
type
Inadvertent Entrance Cue
 Birdman / int_46754750
comment
Inadvertent Entrance Cue: Double Subverted. After Riggan injures Ralph and tells Jake to find a new actor, Jake replies: "What, you think the ideal actor is just gonna knock on that door and take the part?!" [knock on the door]. It's only Lesley's face. Then she informs Riggan and Jake that Mike is available after all.
 Birdman / int_46754750
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_46754750
 Birdman / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 Birdman / int_4781adbb
comment
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Riggan's selfish and sometimes blunt to the point of rudeness, but he loves his daughter and ex-wife, and does care about the rest of the cast and crew. Except Mike. Sam, Riggan's daughter. She's very cynical and doesn't mince her words for anybody, but she's not a bad person and shows a more caring side several times.
 Birdman / int_4781adbb
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 Birdman / int_4781adbb
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_4781adbb
 Birdman / int_494a4104
type
Naked People Trapped Outside
 Birdman / int_494a4104
comment
Naked People Trapped Outside: Riggan's robe gets stuck in the door, so he is forced to walk around Times Square in his underwear.
 Birdman / int_494a4104
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_494a4104
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_494a4104
 Birdman / int_4ff6f484
type
Trash the Set
 Birdman / int_4ff6f484
comment
Trash the Set: Riggan is a Prima Donna Director and in a fit of rage he completely wrecks his dressing room.
 Birdman / int_4ff6f484
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1.0
 Birdman / int_4ff6f484
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_4ff6f484
 Birdman / int_53224e46
type
Bookends
 Birdman / int_53224e46
comment
Bookends: In the movie's opening, Sam buys some flowers for Riggan. In the closing scene, she brings some more. There's also the meteor dream.
 Birdman / int_53224e46
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_53224e46
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Birdman / int_53224e46
 Birdman / int_532f8e61
type
Instant Humiliation: Just Add YouTube!
 Birdman / int_532f8e61
comment
Instant Humiliation: Just Add YouTube!: A case of Naked People Are Funny. The clip of Riggan in underwear on Times Square goes viral and receives 50,000 clicks on YouTube within a day.
 Birdman / int_532f8e61
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 Birdman / int_532f8e61
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Birdman / int_532f8e61
 Birdman / int_58970413
type
Coincidental Broadcast
 Birdman / int_58970413
comment
Coincidental Broadcast: During the epilogue in the hospital, when they turn on the TV, it cuts right into a news report of people around the country praying for Riggan's health.
 Birdman / int_58970413
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1.0
 Birdman / int_58970413
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_58970413
 Birdman / int_590eb583
type
Domestic Abuse
 Birdman / int_590eb583
comment
Domestic Abuse: Mentioned to have happened at least once in Riggan and Sylvia's marriage. When he asks her why they divorced, she reminds him that he attacked her with a knife during one of their altercations- simply because she didn't like a movie he was in.
 Birdman / int_590eb583
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 Birdman / int_590eb583
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Birdman / int_590eb583
 Birdman / int_5a3b8032
type
The Un-Reveal
 Birdman / int_5a3b8032
comment
The Unreveal: The last scene of Sam looking out of the window in awe, yet we never learn what she saw.
 Birdman / int_5a3b8032
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_5a3b8032
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_5a3b8032
 Birdman / int_5b565147
type
Meaningful Background Event
 Birdman / int_5b565147
comment
Meaningful Background Event: The day after the initial preview, the backstage halls get narrower and the carpet changes to something reminiscent of the hotel in The Shining. They get narrower again the following night. On the way to the bar with Mike, Riggan tips a drummer. The drummer's not there on the way back, but the drumming is. When Mike's not on-stage, all his costumes are based on James Dean characters.
 Birdman / int_5b565147
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Birdman / int_5b565147
 Birdman / int_5d5cc3fd
type
Through the Eyes of Madness
 Birdman / int_5d5cc3fd
comment
Through the Eyes of Madness: We see the film through Riggan's unstable mind. Though the ending suggests that it's real.
 Birdman / int_5d5cc3fd
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1.0
 Birdman / int_5d5cc3fd
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Birdman / int_5d5cc3fd
 Birdman / int_5f70322e
type
Public Domain Soundtrack
 Birdman / int_5f70322e
comment
Public Domain Soundtrack: Though most of the soundtrack is a series of drum solos, it is mixed with snippets of classical music. The incidental music for the play includes the slow movements of Tchaikovsky's Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (the latter also plays after the scene in which Sam takes Riggan down a few pegs), the opening of Mahler's Symphony No.9, and Ravel's "Pavane pour une infante defunte", while Ravel's Piano Trio plays during Riggan's trip to the bar and confrontation with Tabitha, and the "flying" sequence is set to a composite of the first two movements of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No.2. The prominence of these pieces appearing in the score is what lost Antonio Sánchez his Oscar nomination for his drum score.
 Birdman / int_5f70322e
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1.0
 Birdman / int_5f70322e
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1.0
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Birdman / int_5f70322e
 Birdman / int_5f91efd9
type
Creative Closing Credits
 Birdman / int_5f91efd9
comment
Creative Closing Credits: All of the letters per line of opening credits and (main) closing credits appear and disappear on screen in alphabetical order, ie. all the As appear first, then the Bs, and so forth. Each letter's appearance is also synced to the drum solo backing it. At the end of the opening credits, the word "Amor" appears along the movie title for a brief moment. Amor is love in Spanish, and can be considered a reference to the adaptation Riggan is working.
 Birdman / int_5f91efd9
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1.0
 Birdman / int_5f91efd9
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1.0
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Birdman / int_5f91efd9
 Birdman / int_623d69e0
type
The Power of Acting
 Birdman / int_623d69e0
comment
The Power of Acting: Riggan's Birdman persona gives him the motivation to go out and continue to act.
 Birdman / int_623d69e0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_623d69e0
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_623d69e0
 Birdman / int_62b65869
type
And I'm the Queen of Sheba
 Birdman / int_62b65869
comment
And I'm the Queen of Sheba: Jake tries to motivate Riggan by telling him that Martin Scorsese, who is casting a movie, will be in the audience one night. When Laura asks if it's true, he replies "Yeah. I'm the new pope, too." ... which may be a reference to yet another Keaton film, Johnny Dangerously, where Keaton's character, the eponymous Dangerously, says "around here I'm just plain Johnny Kelley", to which the Pope replies, "Sure, and I'm-a the Pope."
 Birdman / int_62b65869
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1.0
 Birdman / int_62b65869
featureConfidence
1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_62b65869
 Birdman / int_69fe36a8
type
Faux Adventure Story
 Birdman / int_69fe36a8
comment
Faux Adventure Story: The movie employs the aesthetics of a superhero blockbuster, but is actually a black comedy/psychological drama about a former blockbuster actor attempting to start a new career in theater.
 Birdman / int_69fe36a8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_69fe36a8
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_69fe36a8
 Birdman / int_6bd689ca
type
Meaningful Echo
 Birdman / int_6bd689ca
comment
Meaningful Echo: At one point, Riggan vents to his ex-wife about how he shouldn't have videotaped Sam's birth because he missed the moment. Then, in the epilogue he finally gets to share an authentic moment in a hospital with Sam. Riggan to Lesley: "You're beautiful and you're talented and I'm lucky to have you." Laura, his girlfriend, hears this and sulks because he never said anything like that to her. Then Lesley repeats the line to her in a meaningful manner.
 Birdman / int_6bd689ca
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1.0
 Birdman / int_6bd689ca
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Birdman / int_6bd689ca
 Birdman / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Birdman / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Mike Shiner is an arrogant Prima Donna who gets punched a few times. "Shiner" is slang for a black eye.
 Birdman / int_6bda9a30
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1.0
 Birdman / int_6bda9a30
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_6bda9a30
 Birdman / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 Birdman / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Averted, but only barely. Riggan tells his wife he attempted to commit suicide after cheating on her at their anniversary party, and then, on opening night - believing that his show will be a failure and he will lose everything - he tries to blow his brains out (but fails). He also possibly attempts suicide by jumping off a roof twice (two different roofs), although it's more ambiguous.
 Birdman / int_6d332aea
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 Birdman / int_6d332aea
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_6d332aea
 Birdman / int_72e1bd14
type
Bungled Suicide
 Birdman / int_72e1bd14
comment
Bungled Suicide: A running theme. In the play, Lesley's former lover Ate His Gun but survived. Same happens to Riggan during the play's grand finale on opening night. Riggan reveals that he tried Suicide by Sea after cheating on his wife but jellyfish made him return to the beach.
 Birdman / int_72e1bd14
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1.0
 Birdman / int_72e1bd14
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Birdman / int_72e1bd14
 Birdman / int_7332c94f
type
Suicide by Sea
 Birdman / int_7332c94f
comment
Riggan reveals that he tried Suicide by Sea after cheating on his wife but jellyfish made him return to the beach.
 Birdman / int_7332c94f
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1.0
 Birdman / int_7332c94f
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_7332c94f
 Birdman / int_7ad0e492
type
Imaginary Friend
 Birdman / int_7ad0e492
comment
Riggan's Imaginary Friend calls Robert Downey Jr. a clown in a tin man get-up.
 Birdman / int_7ad0e492
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1.0
 Birdman / int_7ad0e492
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Birdman / int_7ad0e492
 Birdman / int_7d89315b
type
"The Reason You Suck" Speech
 Birdman / int_7d89315b
comment
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Sam gives Riggan a particularly nasty one; he may ridicule social media and viral videos, but she tells him they're a large part of how society and popular culture have moved on and left him behind. She immediately looks like she regrets it, but walks away instead of apologizing. Riggan serves one to Tabitha, calling her position and work methods as a critic cowardly and risk free while he's risking everything on his play. Tabitha gives one right back to him, calling his Hollywood movies "cartoons and pornography" and telling him that no matter how good his play is, she'll demolish it, though she apparently was impressed enough to write a positive review afterwards.
 Birdman / int_7d89315b
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1.0
 Birdman / int_7d89315b
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Birdman / int_7d89315b
 Birdman / int_7e226b8a
type
Orbital Shot
 Birdman / int_7e226b8a
comment
Orbital Shot: The camera moves in circles around the kitchen table while characters do some talking.
 Birdman / int_7e226b8a
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1.0
 Birdman / int_7e226b8a
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Birdman / int_7e226b8a
 Birdman / int_7e415ab5
type
Hospital Epilogue
 Birdman / int_7e415ab5
comment
Hospital Epilogue: The film ends with Riggan's daughter visiting him in the hospital after his Bungled Suicide.
 Birdman / int_7e415ab5
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1.0
 Birdman / int_7e415ab5
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_7e415ab5
 Birdman / int_823c6e3e
type
Large Ham
 Birdman / int_823c6e3e
comment
Large Ham: Riggan's Birdman persona thoroughly enjoys every line he speaks (the opening line of the film, mentioned at the top of the page, sets the character's tone immediately.) The homeless man reciting Macbeth seems to be aware that he's probably playing his monologue up a little too much. "Was that too much? I can see it in your face, it was too much. I was just trying to give you some range."
 Birdman / int_823c6e3e
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1.0
 Birdman / int_823c6e3e
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_823c6e3e
 Birdman / int_828b231
type
We Were Rehearsing a Play
 Birdman / int_828b231
comment
We Were Rehearsing a Play: Inverted. Riggan walks up to actors on a stage having a discussion and it is a minute or so before the audience is clued in on whether this is a bunch of actors having a real conversation on the set, or a rehearsal - it's actually the rehearsal.
 Birdman / int_828b231
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1.0
 Birdman / int_828b231
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_828b231
 Birdman / int_82accf22
type
Gainax Ending
 Birdman / int_82accf22
comment
Gainax Ending: While the movie itself is pretty weird throughout, the opening night of the show is when things go completely off the walls. It's not because the narrative doesn't make sense (as It Makes Sense in Context), but because of how open to interpretation the last act of the film is - especially the epilogue.
 Birdman / int_82accf22
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1.0
 Birdman / int_82accf22
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_82accf22
 Birdman / int_84764598
type
Dramatic Thunder
 Birdman / int_84764598
comment
Dramatic Thunder: Employed for the climatic bedroom scene in the Show Within a Show.
 Birdman / int_84764598
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1.0
 Birdman / int_84764598
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_84764598
 Birdman / int_85f0f0fb
type
World of Snark
 Birdman / int_85f0f0fb
comment
World of Snark: Pretty much every character of note has some kind of witty remark on hand.
 Birdman / int_85f0f0fb
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1.0
 Birdman / int_85f0f0fb
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Birdman / int_85f0f0fb
 Birdman / int_8a24c94e
type
Studio Chatter
 Birdman / int_8a24c94e
comment
Studio Chatter: The first seconds of the opening credits and the final seconds of the closing credits feature drummer/score writer Antonio Sánchez speaking to director Iñárritu, who was sitting in the recording booth with Sánchez, during the recording of the film's score.
 Birdman / int_8a24c94e
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1.0
 Birdman / int_8a24c94e
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Birdman / int_8a24c94e
 Birdman / int_8ae880f7
type
Deconstruction
 Birdman / int_8ae880f7
comment
Deconstruction: Of the pursuit of fame and recognition, showing what happens when a person's entire self-image revolves around those things. Riggan's life and mental state fell apart after he lost his fame, and his attempts to regain it only send him further into the depths of madness. The film also deconstructs Broadway and theater in general, illustrating just how difficult and stressful putting together a Broadway play is. Clashing egos, relationship issues, and freak accidents (one of which results in a lawsuit) cause production problems; Riggan has to refinance his house in order to fund the play, and by opening night he's broke. Plus there's the added pressure of having to win over an influential critic that could easily sink the play with a bad review.
 Birdman / int_8ae880f7
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1.0
 Birdman / int_8ae880f7
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Birdman / int_8ae880f7
 Birdman / int_8cd96e6c
type
Nasal Trauma
 Birdman / int_8cd96e6c
comment
Nasal Trauma: During Riggan's opening night show, he loads the prop gun with real bullets, intending to commit suicide onstage. Instead he ends up shooting his nose off and fainting, waking up to find he's still alive, his play is getting incredible reviews for "super realism", and he's been surgically given a new nose.
 Birdman / int_8cd96e6c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_8cd96e6c
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_8cd96e6c
 Birdman / int_8d6d9535
type
Artistic License – Medicine
 Birdman / int_8d6d9535
comment
Artistic License – Medicine: People will debate if it is real or a dream sequence at the end, but if it isn't: if Riggan was supposed to be lying in bed at the hospital, he should have been hooked up to a heart monitor, and an alarm should have gone off at the nurses' station when he got up. He also shouldn't have been able to take the bandages off so easily by himself. Hospital rooms also do not have windows that open.
 Birdman / int_8d6d9535
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1.0
 Birdman / int_8d6d9535
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_8d6d9535
 Birdman / int_8e76ea52
type
Fish-Eye Lens
 Birdman / int_8e76ea52
comment
Fish-Eye Lens: There is a mild fish eye effect in some close-up shots of individuals, for example when Sam is telling Riggan what's wrong with him.
 Birdman / int_8e76ea52
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1.0
 Birdman / int_8e76ea52
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_8e76ea52
 Birdman / int_8ee370b6
type
Method Acting
 Birdman / int_8ee370b6
comment
Method Acting: In-Universe, Mike is an extreme practitioner of this, demanding to be threatened with a more real looking gun, botching a preview over a glass of gin that's actually only water, and almost raping Lesley on stage in an effort to look "more real".
 Birdman / int_8ee370b6
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1.0
 Birdman / int_8ee370b6
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_8ee370b6
 Birdman / int_90c70630
type
Fatal Method Acting
 Birdman / int_90c70630
comment
Fatal Method Acting: Barely averted in-universe, as Riggan shoots himself in the head during the opening night performance. He survives, and is also praised for his new acting style of "Super-Realism".
 Birdman / int_90c70630
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 Birdman / int_90c70630
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_90c70630
 Birdman / int_9637893b
type
Schrödinger's Butterfly
 Birdman / int_9637893b
comment
Schrödinger's Butterfly: Schrödinger's Bird. Given how Riggan's dream sequences appear between his real life, some exploit this possibility.
 Birdman / int_9637893b
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1.0
 Birdman / int_9637893b
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_9637893b
 Birdman / int_96d1b224
type
Little People Are Surreal
 Birdman / int_96d1b224
comment
Little People Are Surreal: It's revealed through dialog that the play Riggan is working on includes a dream sequence with dancing dwarfs.
 Birdman / int_96d1b224
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1.0
 Birdman / int_96d1b224
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_96d1b224
 Birdman / int_96fbeaf
type
There Are No Therapists
 Birdman / int_96fbeaf
comment
There Are No Therapists: No theater production staff in their right minds would leave a dangerously depressed important lead actor by himself, even if he was the director.
 Birdman / int_96fbeaf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_96fbeaf
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_96fbeaf
 Birdman / int_97926168
type
Rewatch Bonus
 Birdman / int_97926168
comment
Rewatch Bonus: During the scene before Ralph is injured, Riggan can be seen glancing at the lights above, implying that he has or is tampering with them in order to get Ralph out of his play.
 Birdman / int_97926168
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1.0
 Birdman / int_97926168
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_97926168
 Birdman / int_9843be73
type
As You Know
 Birdman / int_9843be73
comment
As You Know: How Riggan introduces Jake: "Look, you're my attorney. You're my producer. You're my best friend."
 Birdman / int_9843be73
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_9843be73
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_9843be73
 Birdman / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Birdman / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: The first time a rehearsal of the play is shown in the movie, the characters are discussing an event that ends up mirroring an event at the end: a character attempting, and failing, to commit suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Birdman tells Riggan he can reclaim his former glory if he loses the goatee and gets some plastic surgery. After shooting himself in the face, Riggan makes headlines and has his face reconstructed, sans goatee. At the beginning, Riggan says about the mediocre actor who was hit by a light spot on the head that bleeding was the only thing he ever got good at. At the end, Riggan shoots himself for real on stage and this cements the success of the play and earns him a glowing review from the critic.
 Birdman / int_9d12bbc1
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1.0
 Birdman / int_9d12bbc1
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_9d12bbc1
 Birdman / int_9f2898f7
type
Long Title
 Birdman / int_9f2898f7
comment
Long Title: In-universe; the play Riggan is performing is called What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.
 Birdman / int_9f2898f7
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1.0
 Birdman / int_9f2898f7
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_9f2898f7
 Birdman / int_a10d8339
type
The Show Must Go On
 Birdman / int_a10d8339
comment
The Show Must Go On: Never referenced by name, but happens often with Jake's uneven behavior and Riggan's breakdown, but best displayed in Riggan's scene running around the building in his underwear to make sure he makes his cue.
 Birdman / int_a10d8339
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a10d8339
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a10d8339
 Birdman / int_a18042f1
type
Left the Background Music On
 Birdman / int_a18042f1
comment
Left the Background Music On: A jazzy drum beat recurs frequently throughout the movie. At one point, Riggan tips a street performer who is apparently providing the sound. Later, the same drummer is again seen backstage at the theater.
 Birdman / int_a18042f1
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 Birdman / int_a18042f1
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a18042f1
 Birdman / int_a54534a0
type
Parental Neglect
 Birdman / int_a54534a0
comment
Parental Neglect: Sam accuses her father of this. They kind of reconnect in the movie's epilogue. See Meaningful Echo.
 Birdman / int_a54534a0
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a54534a0
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a54534a0
 Birdman / int_a55ab01e
type
Jerkass Realization
 Birdman / int_a55ab01e
comment
Jerkass Realization: After delivering a huge "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Riggan, Sam looks at her father with guilt in her eyes. She leaves without apologizing, but it's clear she realizes she went too far, and she never acts anywhere near as mean spirited to Riggan after that.
 Birdman / int_a55ab01e
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a55ab01e
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a55ab01e
 Birdman / int_a5eb6c29
type
Vanity Project
 Birdman / int_a5eb6c29
comment
Vanity Project: In-universe with Riggan's Broadway production.
 Birdman / int_a5eb6c29
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a5eb6c29
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a5eb6c29
 Birdman / int_a76de48b
type
Troubled Production
 Birdman / int_a76de48b
comment
Troubled Production: In-Universe. The film is about the problems the show faces, internally and externally.
 Birdman / int_a76de48b
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a76de48b
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a76de48b
 Birdman / int_a89b070a
type
Career Resurrection
 Birdman / int_a89b070a
comment
Career Resurrection: invoked Riggan's career has been circling the drain since he bowed out of doing further Birdman sequels, and he is hoping to revive it by adapting Raymond Carver's short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" for the Broadway stage, and directing and starring in the initial run.
 Birdman / int_a89b070a
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1.0
 Birdman / int_a89b070a
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_a89b070a
 Birdman / int_ad3e13c5
type
The Loins Sleep Tonight
 Birdman / int_ad3e13c5
comment
The Loins Sleep Tonight: Mike has a hard time getting hard outside of the stage, which Lesley brings up after nearly he tries to have sex with her on stage for the sake of method acting. Mike also shows reluctance towards Sam's attraction to him at first, and states this as the reason.
 Birdman / int_ad3e13c5
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1.0
 Birdman / int_ad3e13c5
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_ad3e13c5
 Birdman / int_b2af79fb
type
Leave the Camera Running
 Birdman / int_b2af79fb
comment
Leave the Camera Running: Given the nature of the film to serve as an Epic Tracking Shot for two whole hours, the camera pauses at an empty hallway at one point and sits there for a whole twenty seconds before Riggan walks into frame.
 Birdman / int_b2af79fb
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 Birdman / int_b2af79fb
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_b2af79fb
 Birdman / int_b3a0852b
type
Animation Age Ghetto
 Birdman / int_b3a0852b
comment
Animation Age Ghetto: In-universe. The New York Times critic Tabitha derides Hollywood for presenting awards to cartoons and porn, implying they are equally artistically bankrupt. This is a belief among certain critics.
 Birdman / int_b3a0852b
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1.0
 Birdman / int_b3a0852b
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_b3a0852b
 Birdman / int_b3f4b615
type
Raging Stiffie
 Birdman / int_b3f4b615
comment
Raging Stiffie: Mike gets one onstage.
 Birdman / int_b3f4b615
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_b3f4b615
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_b3f4b615
 Birdman / int_b53077b3
type
Take That!
 Birdman / int_b53077b3
comment
Take That!: Some pretty nasty ones. Riggan's Imaginary Friend calls Robert Downey Jr. a clown in a tin man get-up. Jake mocks the prequelitis of the X-Men Film Series. Also his harsh joke about Meg Ryan's nose job. Riggan snarks about Jeremy Renner jumping onto the Super Hero bandwagon ("They put him in a cape, too?") Sam mentions that "that dude from American Pie" was with her at the rehab. The film could be viewed as one against superheroes in general with Riggan's fantasy and Birdman's subsequent comments being a stark example. This seems to only be influenced by the director's own beliefs. A triple one when Sam criticizes Mike’s pep-talk to her as being Oprah Winfrey, R. Kelly and Hallmark bad. Riggan and Laura snark that they shouldn’t have kids together because they would have turned out like Justin Bieber. Ironically, Tabitha's existence seems to be directly mocking critics who automatically dismiss anything animated or comic-book-based for not qualifying as "real art."invoked
 Birdman / int_b53077b3
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 Birdman / int_b53077b3
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_b53077b3
 Birdman / int_b688bbfc
type
Pregnancy Scare
 Birdman / int_b688bbfc
comment
Pregnancy Scare: Riggan's girlfriend reveals to him that she missed her last two periods. His excitement is underwhelming which earns him a slap in the face. Later we learn that the girlfriend made her pregnancy up just to observe his reaction.
 Birdman / int_b688bbfc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_b688bbfc
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1.0
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Birdman / int_b688bbfc
 Birdman / int_b6cebad3
type
Double Standard
 Birdman / int_b6cebad3
comment
Double Standard: Tabitha gives the example of Hollywood performers making up and giving each other awards for their hollow productions and performances... despite Broadway having the Tonys with over-the-top, big-budget features (not to mention Conceptual/Modern art movements and their self-driven recognition system).
 Birdman / int_b6cebad3
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Birdman / int_b6cebad3
 Birdman / int_bb18a227
type
It's All About Me
 Birdman / int_bb18a227
comment
It's All About Me: Both Shiner and Riggan, though Riggan's slightly more subtle about it. Slightly.
 Birdman / int_bb18a227
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1.0
 Birdman / int_bb18a227
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Birdman / int_bb18a227
 Birdman / int_bc1a0bb1
type
The Last Dance
 Birdman / int_bc1a0bb1
comment
The Last Dance: Invoked. After letting his Birdman persona pump him up before the opening night, Riggan performs a hell of a performance to the point that people are gushing about him during the intermission and eager to see more. He ends it with a suicide attempt that, ironically, is the finishing touch that makes everyone go wild.
 Birdman / int_bc1a0bb1
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1.0
 Birdman / int_bc1a0bb1
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_bc1a0bb1
 Birdman / int_bef696dd
type
Mind Screw
 Birdman / int_bef696dd
comment
Mind Screw: Does Riggan have psychic powers? Did he commit suicide at any point in the film, with the remainder serving as some sort of Dying Dream? What did Sam's reaction to the ending indicate? Good luck figuring those out.
 Birdman / int_bef696dd
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1.0
 Birdman / int_bef696dd
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Birdman / int_bef696dd
 Birdman / int_c0b01
type
Set Behind the Scenes
 Birdman / int_c0b01
comment
Set Behind the Scenes: The whole story is about the production of Riggan's play, and most of it takes place backstage of the rehearsals.
 Birdman / int_c0b01
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1.0
 Birdman / int_c0b01
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Birdman / int_c0b01
 Birdman / int_c2393191
type
Show Within a Show
 Birdman / int_c2393191
comment
Show Within a Show: Riggan attempts to stage a theatrical version of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” that he’s adapting, directing, and starring in himself. It is not going as well as he’d hoped.
 Birdman / int_c2393191
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1.0
 Birdman / int_c2393191
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_c2393191
 Birdman / int_c3585f4a
type
Boom, Headshot!
 Birdman / int_c3585f4a
comment
Boom, Headshot!: During the premiere, Riggan shoots himself in the head with a real gun. He survives, though.
 Birdman / int_c3585f4a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_c3585f4a
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1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_c3585f4a
 Birdman / int_c4d293c4
type
Let's See YOU Do Better!
 Birdman / int_c4d293c4
comment
Riggan serves one to Tabitha, calling her position and work methods as a critic cowardly and risk free while he's risking everything on his play. Tabitha gives one right back to him, calling his Hollywood movies "cartoons and pornography" and telling him that no matter how good his play is, she'll demolish it, though she apparently was impressed enough to write a positive review afterwards.
 Birdman / int_c4d293c4
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1.0
 Birdman / int_c4d293c4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_c4d293c4
 Birdman / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Birdman / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: Birdman 3's title font resembles that of Iron Man 3's. Riggan's Birdman voice suggests calling their comeback film The Phoenix Rises. During the scene when Riggan is envisioning Birdman flying and using his powers, Birdman's beams look identical to Birdman's solar beams. The carpeting backstage is similar to that in The Shining.
 Birdman / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Birdman / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_c75df49a
 Birdman / int_caa28b82
type
Cloudcuckoolander
 Birdman / int_caa28b82
comment
Cloudcuckoolander: Riggan is certainly one, with his chronic hallucinations, occasional meltdowns, and manic, stressed out demeanor.
 Birdman / int_caa28b82
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_caa28b82
featureConfidence
1.0
 Birdman
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Birdman / int_caa28b82
 Birdman / int_cb70651c
type
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane
 Birdman / int_cb70651c
comment
Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: It's not clear how much of the film's Magical Realism is meant to be real, or exist solely in Riggan's mind. There is evidence for and against: When he uses telekinesis to wreck his dressing room, Jake walks in and sees him using his hands to wreck something, suggesting all the psychic powers are actually in his head. After Riggan goes flying, when he lands in front of the theater and walks inside, a cabbie rushes into the theater almost immediately afterward demanding cab fare. This suggests that his flying trip was just a cab ride, but we also never see who the cabbie collected his fare from. When Ralph gets hit in the head with a stage light, Riggan claims responsibility for it because he wanted Ralph out of the play. Riggan can also be seen repeatedly glancing at the lights above Ralph, suggesting he's telekinetically tampering with them. It could've just been a coincidence and he was just rolling his eyes at the Bad "Bad Acting". There's really no possibility that the meteor strikes, monster bird and phantom Birdman are real, so we know that at least some things are all in Riggan's head. In the very end, Sam looks out into the street for Riggan, then looks up into the sky and smiles. It's not clear if she's seeing Riggan flying, or looking at something else, or is simply part of Riggan's fantasy to begin with. When Riggan flies off the street to the roof, people stop and stare. Riggan leaves the frame, but the people continue to stare as the camera pans up and shows that he is now perched on top of a roof. Someone asks if he's shooting a movie or not. Either these bystanders saw Riggan float up there or they are looking up to see a famous actor perched on a roof.
 Birdman / int_cb70651c
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1.0
 Birdman / int_cb70651c
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_cb70651c
 Birdman / int_cb83d23b
type
I Just Want to Be Special
 Birdman / int_cb83d23b
comment
I Just Want to Be Special: Sam says this is the reason Riggan is doing the play - he's so frightened at being a faceless, forgotten nobody that he has to grab the spotlight back no matter the cost. Considering his personality at times, it's probably true.
 Birdman / int_cb83d23b
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1.0
 Birdman / int_cb83d23b
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Birdman / int_cb83d23b
 Birdman / int_ce27dc3f
type
Protagonist Title
 Birdman / int_ce27dc3f
comment
Protagonist Title: Refers to Riggan, who played the titular fictional superhero.
 Birdman / int_ce27dc3f
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1.0
 Birdman / int_ce27dc3f
featureConfidence
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_ce27dc3f
 Birdman / int_ce28f525
type
Wag the Director
 Birdman / int_ce28f525
comment
Wag the Director: invoked A good portion of the film is dedicated to Riggan dealing with Mike's attempts at usurping control of the play.
 Birdman / int_ce28f525
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1.0
 Birdman / int_ce28f525
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Birdman / int_ce28f525
 Birdman / int_ce9da072
type
Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic
 Birdman / int_ce9da072
comment
Realistic Diction Is Unrealistic: Downplayed. While the characters tend to make verbose speeches and can rapidly go back and forth in dialog, you can occasionally hear them repeat words or stutter.
 Birdman / int_ce9da072
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1.0
 Birdman / int_ce9da072
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_ce9da072
 Birdman / int_cf511248
type
All Part of the Show
 Birdman / int_cf511248
comment
All Part of the Show: The in-universe audience doesn't realize that Riggan actually shot himself for real at the end of the play. Once they learn the truth, however, they like it even more, praising the "Super-Realism" of the production.
 Birdman / int_cf511248
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_cf511248
featureConfidence
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_cf511248
 Birdman / int_d0f0a80d
type
One-Word Title
 Birdman / int_d0f0a80d
comment
One-Word Title
 Birdman / int_d0f0a80d
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d0f0a80d
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Birdman / int_d0f0a80d
 Birdman / int_d2d4f0c6
type
Power Fantasy
 Birdman / int_d2d4f0c6
comment
Power Fantasy: Riggan's "flight" and "telekinesis". Maybe.
 Birdman / int_d2d4f0c6
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d2d4f0c6
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Birdman / int_d2d4f0c6
 Birdman / int_d55108a1
type
Horrible Hollywood
 Birdman / int_d55108a1
comment
Horrible Hollywood: The New York Times critic (Tabitha) uses this as her reasoning to sabotage the performance, believing that screen actors don't belong onstage.
 Birdman / int_d55108a1
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d55108a1
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Birdman / int_d55108a1
 Birdman / int_d64491d8
type
Meaningless Meaningful Words
 Birdman / int_d64491d8
comment
Meaningless Meaningful Words: Riggan chews out Tabitha Dickenson's reviews for being this, and not actually putting any time into the technical or structural elements of plays.
 Birdman / int_d64491d8
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d64491d8
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Birdman / int_d64491d8
 Birdman / int_d848560f
type
Unusual Euphemism
 Birdman / int_d848560f
comment
Unusual Euphemism:
 Birdman / int_d848560f
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d848560f
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Birdman / int_d848560f
 Birdman / int_d84a3beb
type
Either/Or Title
 Birdman / int_d84a3beb
comment
Either/Or Title: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).
 Birdman / int_d84a3beb
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1.0
 Birdman / int_d84a3beb
featureConfidence
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Birdman / int_d84a3beb
 Birdman / int_df79b05b
type
Media Scrum
 Birdman / int_df79b05b
comment
Media Scrum: The crazy crowd of journalists in front of Riggan's hospital room at the end. The police can barely keep them in check.
 Birdman / int_df79b05b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_df79b05b
featureConfidence
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Birdman / int_df79b05b
 Birdman / int_dfa40c1b
type
Didn't See That Coming
 Birdman / int_dfa40c1b
comment
Didn't See That Coming: In a quite literal sense. At the hospital, when Jake boasts about how he can see into the future, Riggan's ex-wife slaps him in the face, just to disprove his point.
 Birdman / int_dfa40c1b
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 Birdman / int_dfa40c1b
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Birdman / int_dfa40c1b
 Birdman / int_e022585
type
Television Geography
 Birdman / int_e022585
comment
Television Geography: The street outside St. James Theater is depicted with some licenses.
 Birdman / int_e022585
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1.0
 Birdman / int_e022585
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Birdman / int_e022585
 Birdman / int_e2ccee25
type
Animal Motifs
 Birdman / int_e2ccee25
comment
Animal Motifs: Obviously, birds play a major part in the movie. For example, Sam has a tattoo on her shoulder of a feather that turns into a small flock of birds.
 Birdman / int_e2ccee25
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 Birdman / int_e2ccee25
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Birdman / int_e2ccee25
 Birdman / int_e5421161
type
Expy
 Birdman / int_e5421161
comment
Expy: Birdman is obviously based on Batman.
 Birdman / int_e5421161
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1.0
 Birdman / int_e5421161
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_e5421161
 Birdman / int_e545d293
type
Narm
 Birdman / int_e545d293
comment
Narm:invoked In-Universe, Mike's Raging Stiffie during a preview causes derisive laughter during what is otherwise meant to be a very emotional scene.
 Birdman / int_e545d293
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1.0
 Birdman / int_e545d293
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Birdman / int_e545d293
 Birdman / int_e63270bc
type
Mr. Imagination
 Birdman / int_e63270bc
comment
Mr. Imagination: Riggan, who frequently imagines having both telekinesis and Flight as well as some other powers, not to mention having Birdman follow him. This gets played for both laughs and drama. The ending leaves it ambiguous whether it's Real After All.
 Birdman / int_e63270bc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_e63270bc
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Birdman / int_e63270bc
 Birdman / int_e7e558
type
The Oner
 Birdman / int_e7e558
comment
The Oner: The movie is shot and edited to look like a single, uninterrupted take (though prior to the shot of Riggan levitating, there are two CG shots of the Birdman flying through the New York skies). In reality, the film contains roughly 16 scenes that were skillfully stitched together in post production to give the illusion of a single take. The actors cited that if any of them made a mistake, it would be on them. Apparently, Emma Stone made the most mistakes, Zach Galifianakis made the fewest. He actually did mess up a few lines during the filming, but played his mistakes off well enough that the shots were included in the film.note In a stricter sense of the trope, Keaton's walk through Times Square in his boxers was only shot twice; any more takes, and he would have been recognized.
 Birdman / int_e7e558
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 Birdman / int_e7e558
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Birdman / int_e7e558
 Birdman / int_e807c3ec
type
Levitating Lotus Position
 Birdman / int_e807c3ec
comment
Levitating Lotus Position: Riggan is floating in midair for his meditation practice in the opening scene.
 Birdman / int_e807c3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_e807c3ec
featureConfidence
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Birdman / int_e807c3ec
 Birdman / int_eb0df85e
type
Ham-to-Ham Combat
 Birdman / int_eb0df85e
comment
Ham-to-Ham Combat: Riggan and Shiner indulge in it at times, with the former complaining the latter is clearly overacting to try to steal the spotlight.
 Birdman / int_eb0df85e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_eb0df85e
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Birdman / int_eb0df85e
 Birdman / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Birdman / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Riggan's selfish and sometimes blunt to the point of rudeness, but he loves his daughter and ex-wife, and does care about the rest of the cast and crew. Except Mike.
 Birdman / int_eb8ec7c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_eb8ec7c8
featureConfidence
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Birdman / int_eb8ec7c8
 Birdman / int_ef81dc82
type
Fantasy Sequence
 Birdman / int_ef81dc82
comment
Fantasy Sequence: Reconstructed and used in several scenes throughout the film. The first scene shows Riggan levitating alone in his dressing room before he ceases and prepares for his role. When he's next on stage, he looks at a light directly above Ralph during a poor read-through of the play, and the light falls and hits Ralph on the head, injuring and removing him from the production. Later, he receives flowers from Sam different to those he requested; so, once alone with them, he smashes the vase in which they are placed telekinetically. Further along, while downcast in his dressing room, he uses his powers to destroy the furniture within it (including his "Birdman" film poster) before Jake enters. Next, on the morning of Opening Day, with a hangover and after a night of heavy drinking and waking on the street, coaxed by his alter ego, he imagines a giant metallic bird destroying a suburban section of New York. Then, after stepping away from the edge of a high roof at another gentleman's insistence, he runs back and jumps off of it, and, from there, begins flying. Finally, while recovering from his gunshot wound in a hospital, he opens the window of the room, seeing a flock of birds flying in the distance, and stands on the sill of the window; we then see the room and Sam enter the room, looking for Riggan; she sees the open window and panics; she looks through it, down to the street; she hears a bird's cry and looks in the same direction as Riggan had looked - where he saw the birds - and smiles.
 Birdman / int_ef81dc82
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 Birdman / int_ef81dc82
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Birdman / int_ef81dc82
 Birdman / int_f19e8a55
type
Bad "Bad Acting"
 Birdman / int_f19e8a55
comment
Bad "Bad Acting": Ralph, the actor in the beginning, is said to be a very bad actor by everyone who works with him. He's so bad that Riggan claims he made the light fall on his head to remove him from the play. Amusingly, Michael Keaton commented in an interview that Jeremy Shamos (Ralph's actor) was probably the most theatrically experienced actor of them all and one of the most talented actors he'd ever met. Indeed, Shamos' work is a fairly realistic example of this trope, as Ralph comes across as a genuinely bad actor, but not nearly as exaggerated as most examples, to the point where it's believable he'd be cast, especially in such a Troubled Production.
 Birdman / int_f19e8a55
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 Birdman / int_f19e8a55
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Birdman / int_f19e8a55
 Birdman / int_f64a9cf7
type
Earn Your Happy Ending
 Birdman / int_f64a9cf7
comment
Earn Your Happy Ending: Despite Riggan having shot himself in the head, the play is a success, his relationship with Sam is mended, and Riggan is praised for his new acting technique of "Super-Realism". Also, he becomes Birdman in the end. Maybe.
 Birdman / int_f64a9cf7
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 Birdman / int_f64a9cf7
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Birdman / int_f64a9cf7
 Birdman / int_f76b8969
type
Anthropomorphic Personification
 Birdman / int_f76b8969
comment
Anthropomorphic Personification: The visualized Birdman, possibly the ghost of Riggan's past self in character, may represent Riggan's subconscious desire to return to blockbuster cinema, a temptation which the real Riggan furiously resists.
 Birdman / int_f76b8969
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 Birdman / int_f76b8969
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Birdman / int_f76b8969
 Birdman / int_f85354eb
type
Attempted Rape
 Birdman / int_f85354eb
comment
Attempted Rape: Mike on Lesley under the sheets during first preview.
 Birdman / int_f85354eb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Birdman / int_f85354eb
featureConfidence
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 Birdman
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Birdman / int_f85354eb
 Birdman / int_fac4ff79
type
Meta Casting
 Birdman / int_fac4ff79
comment
Meta Casting: Like Thomson, Michael Keaton once played a superhero on film, and struggled to find high-profile roles after. Fitting with the superhero theme, Gwen Stacy and the Hulk were also cast in supporting roles. Additionally, Edward Norton's casting as a prima donna actor set on undermining the director's vision is fitting, given Norton's own history as a perfectionist who would come into conflict with directors and executives of films he starred in. The most notable examples include his Creative Differences with Tony Kaye over the editing of American History X and his decision to leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe after disagreements with Marvel on the development of his character (hence why Mark Ruffalo was cast as the Hulk in The Avengers). Naomi Watts plays an aspiring actress who, at one point, shows romantic interest in a dark haired woman. Sound familiar? Lindsey Duncan isn't a very recognizable name to the average moviegoer, but she's an acclaimed, award winning stage actress. With this in mind, it makes sense why she was cast as Tabitha, a Broadway critic who hates the Hollywood scene.
 Birdman / int_fac4ff79
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Birdman / int_fac4ff79
 Birdman / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 Birdman / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: The actor who was hit by the light in the beginning returns with his lawyer later in an inappropriate moment.
 Birdman / int_fe0330fb
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ItemName
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Birdman

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Birdman
hasFeature
Bad Review Threat / int_50f4147
 Birdman
hasFeature
The Queen Will Be Watching / int_50f4147
 Birdman
hasFeature
Theatre is True Acting / int_50f4147
 Birdman
hasFeature
Straw Critic / int_50f4147