Birdman (18+) – Starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts, directed by Alejandro G Iñárritu
The Abu Dhabi Week team has been excited about this movie for quite some time. Since Babel in 2006, director Iñárritu caught our eye with his clean cinematography and storytelling skills. So when we saw the trailer for Birdman weeks ago, which left us confused but charmed, we knew the film featuring Keaton and a star-studded cast couldn’t come soon enough.
Birdman tells the story of Riggan Thomas (Keaton) who is trying to revive his career as an actor: Thomas was made famous thanks to his role as superhero, The Birdman.
After refusing a contract for a fourth Birdman, Thomas decides to stage a short story on Broadway. And so begins a week of chaos before the play’s opening night, where Thomas battles with family issues, his own ego and the threat of his show never seeing the first curtain call. The fact that his lead actor is an overly committed method actor (Norton) who he struggles to control doesn’t help.
Iñárritu shows the imagination of his lead character on screen beautifully, taking you down the rabbit hole that is Thomas’ mind. Iñárritu’s storytelling excels once again. Audiences will find themselves hoping this superhero will save the day.
Birdman flies into cinemas Thursday 29th January.
also opening
Selma (TBA)
In a bid to secure equal voting rights in 1965, American activist Martin Luther King Jr leads thousands in a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Starring David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey, directed by Ava DuVernay.
Wild Card (TBA)
Jason Statham sticks to his hard man archetype as he plays a bodyguard who knows how to throw a punch or two. After a friend is attacked, he helps her seek revenge only to find out their target is the son of a mob boss. Cue fighting and cheesy one-liners.
Song of the Sea (G)
This animated film tells the story of a selkie, a woman who turns into a seal, and how she attempts to save trapped fairy creatures. Featuring the voices of Brendan Gleeson and Fionnula Flanagan, directed by Tomm Moore.
