2) Beyond Keaton, it had the year’s best ensemble cast
The Academy Awards do not give out an award for Best Ensemble, like the Screen Actors Guild. However, it was not surprising when the seven principal actors got up on stage a few weeks ago to share that victory. There was no weak spot in the bunch, and the top-tier work of each performer, forced to perform with poise under the demands of working with a constantly moving camera, clearly raised each actor’s game.
Although Keaton anchored Birdman, many of the film’s best performances came from the terrific women in the cast. Emma Stone gave a bruised humanity and caustic wit to Riggan’s neglected daughter, Sam. Andrea Riseborough and Amy Ryan brought gravitas and light humor to the strong, secure women in Riggan’s life. Naomi Watts had great fun in a role that called back to her breakthrough in Mulholland Drive, and Lindsay Duncan was perfectly cast as the sourpuss theater critic who frequents a bar not far from the St. James Theater.
While the women added dramatic heft, the stunning comic turns came from Edward Norton and Zach Galifianakis. In one of his finest hours, Norton played abrasive theatre darling Mike Shiner. Similar to Keaton’s portrayal, the role pokes fun at the actor, widely considered to be picky and difficult to work with. Zach Galifianakis gave terrific support (and unforced comic relief) too as Riggan’s manager and close friend, Jake. With an ensemble so uniformly strong, it was little surprise the film got so much admiration from the Academy’s acting branch.