Project Unwrapped: Prologue

Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

“There's nothing here about technique! There's nothing in here about structure! There's nothing in here about intentions! It's just a bunch of crappy opinions, backed up by even crappier comparisons…”

In Alejandro Iñárritu’s Birdman (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), Riggan, a faded actor who once starred in a superhero franchise, is desperately searching for recognition in a world that has already left him behind. His alter-ego Birdman is a physical manifestation of his own hamartia - his ego, gnawing at him in moments of self-doubt and rejection. In a confrontation between Riggan and a critic, they exchange scathing remarks about artistic integrity, each of them convinced that the other is not skillful enough to attempt “real art”. Behind all the caustic criticisms of the industry, the film reminds us that, at the heart of every pursuit, sincerity always prevails.

We may be “untrained, unversed and unprepared” but without our blissful ignorance of our flaws, how can anyone be foolish enough to venture into anything?

This is where this chapter begins. A chronicle of many cinematic interludes in my life.

For your consideration.

(Originally posted on 5 Mar 2017 @projectunwrapped)