Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Screenplay

by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr.

A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, attempts to revive his career by writing and starring in his very own Broadway play.

112 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nick Martin]

That’s true. I haven’t read a word of it, or even seen the preview. But after the opening tomorrow, I’m gonna turn in the worst review anyone has ever read. And I’m gonna close your play. Would you like to know why?
Because I hate you, and everyone you represent — entitled, selfish, spoiled children. Blissfully untrained, unversed, and unprepared to even attempt real art, handing each other awards for cartoons and pornography, measuring your worth in weekends.
Well this is the theatre.
And you don’t get to come in here and pretend you can write, direct, and act in your own propaganda piece without coming through me first.
So break a leg.

(82:00)

[Richard]

When people think about Birdman they inevitably think about the cinematography and the 'one shot' film. And they should because it's brilliant but they should realise that the idea for that one shot was written in the screenplay and it's not easy to write a single shot screenplay. And also the rest of the screenplay was fantastic. The structure, the tight witty dialogue and the characterisation were all Oscar-worthy and among the best of the millennium so far.

[Majo]

Again, reading the script was a whole new adventure compared to watching the movie. I found some differences in the dialogues, which is a clear evidence of the freedom actors have to adapt the script to their necessities. I love that. Also, I was identified with Riggan's character and his fear of being forgotten.
It was interesting that, somehow, this "Birdman" he had inside his head, this voice that would tell him he was sort of a god, was the one that led him to recognize his reality and how people saw him. I think we all have our own Birdman, which is basically our ego.

[Enma]

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a great screenplay about renewal, rebirthing and saying “fuck what everyone else thinks!”. The fake continuous shot on film is extremely distracting for my taste, but in a screenplay it works perfectly. Definitely, an exceptional critique of the modern artistic industry.

[Teresita]

El final >>>>>>>>>>

[Paige Goodwin]

Honestly I just wanted to read “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” afterwards.

[Erik]

It took me unusually long to finish. Only the last 40 pages were good.

[Levan Chkonia]

Recently, i started reading scripts. I have read Whiplash by far, but liked both.
Birdman was a little bit weird. Whiplash was more interesting for me, but i can't choose. I don't prefer any of them. I'll continue reading screenplays, collect experience of getting it right and then i'll rate this again.

[John Wilbur]

The movie was such a unique film experience for me, I thought it would be fun to read the screenplay. And it was. Kind of like Noises Off, yet with a deeper existential edge.