Birdman (15)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone

'BIRDMAN' Riggan Thomson used to soar but now he is grounded.

He used to fly both literally as an iconic movie superhero and figuratively as a Hollywood A-lister.

But when Riggan (Michael Keaton) gives it all up to pursue more artistic projects and become a 'proper actor', life is not as he imagined it would be.

In his words, the only thing his achievements mount up to is 'the answer to a Trivial Pursuit question'.

Fast forward to present day and he is still haunted by his comic book alter ego who whispers dark thoughts into his ears.

The washed-up actor is struggling to connect with his daughter Sam (Emma Stone) who is fresh out of rehab.

And he is still in love with his ex-wife Sylvia (Amy Ryan) despite trying for a baby with his new girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough).

But Riggan has a chance to reclaim his former glory by investing all his money in a make-or-break Broadway production of Raymond Carver's What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.

Acclaimed Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu is brilliant at painting a picture of a man on a knife point.

This is the last chance for Riggan. He is on the verge of greatness...or a breakdown.

The bizarre black comedy takes place over a series of days in the lead up to opening night with all the filming taking place in and around the theatre as all the desperate preparations unfold.

All hope lies with Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) whose charisma could save the play...or ruin it with his ego, alcoholism and insane method acting.

Keaton is brilliant as a man losing his mind and he is arguably playing a distorted version of himself as the parallels to his real life are obvious and intended.

He played Batman in the Tim Burton films of the late 80s and early 90s before ditching the cape and mask – and he has been underused by Hollywood since.

It brings an extra dimension to the performance but, either way, Keaton is outstanding.

Wherever his character Riggan goes, there are reminders of how the lucrative superhero films have become since he stopped doing them.

He switches on the TV and Robert Downey Jr is being interviewed about amassing his fortune as Iron Man.

Riggan wants The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner to star in his play but is told he is too busy as he is 'one of the Avengers'.

The film is brilliant at amping up the tension in response to the comic book world Riggan has shut the door on.

The menacing voice of Birdman continues to derail him and in moments of madness his former 'super powers' seem to bleed into real life.

Iñárritu cleverly follows the action around the theatre in fluid, continuous camera movements, making you feel like you are there.

And the jarring and yet fitting acid jazz drum soundtrack throughout adds to the unease.

Birdman is a strange follow-up for Iñárritu after his painfully morose and yet beautifully crafted, Biutiful.

But his exploration of our obsession to stay relevant in a world that moves on fast and cares very little is just as compelling.