tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post4240280806408695039..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: BIRDMAN -- my reviewBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-26792669804465853442014-12-18T17:45:02.662-08:002014-12-18T17:45:02.662-08:00Oh Ken, every day you make me laugh. Today it was...Oh Ken, every day you make me laugh. Today it was Zach and the Subway commercial. Thank you for this. Not an aspiring writer, model or waiter, I'm just a Ken Levine fan-girl who has read your blog every day since Time recommended you. Happy Hanukkah from Canada xxJudyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08596112021500591852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55435105552655640582014-12-18T09:10:57.507-08:002014-12-18T09:10:57.507-08:00Amazing film. The best I've seen all year. It ...Amazing film. The best I've seen all year. It was original and challenging and I was involved from the first moment. Great original work.Mark Fearinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633176474005577421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-84821285379422343562014-12-17T15:09:58.874-08:002014-12-17T15:09:58.874-08:00Underwhelmed.Underwhelmed.Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-38882932544498281412014-12-17T13:19:16.669-08:002014-12-17T13:19:16.669-08:00I admired it, but don't think I liked it.<a href="http://www.rogerogreen.com/2014/12/10/movie-review-birdman/" rel="nofollow">I admired it, but don't think I liked it</a>.Roger Owen Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05298172138307632062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80263445469175553722014-12-17T12:41:17.149-08:002014-12-17T12:41:17.149-08:00My knowledge of film, TV, and stage production is ...My knowledge of film, TV, and stage production is probably less sophisticated than most people on this blog, so on behalf of the great unwashed, let me say this: If I hadn't read a lot about this movie before I saw it, I would only have thought that there was something very strange and different about the filming--I wouldn't have been sure what, but I would have loved it anyway. Nothing is more delicious than seeing something strange and new in a movie that is also superb in every way. <br /><br />I have no idea if things are sometimes as chaotic back stage as this movie implies, but it reminded me of that much maligned movie, "Shakespeare in Love" where the producer is telling everyone during each earth shattering crisis that "it will be ok" and when he is asked how, he replies, each and every time, "I don't know, it's a mystery." He's always right. <br /><br />I loved this movie. Diane D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24935898965294900762014-12-17T09:32:51.694-08:002014-12-17T09:32:51.694-08:00comedy does not have to be PC.
Obviously animation...comedy does not have to be PC.<br />Obviously animation shows (South Park, Family Guy, Simpsons) still get away with it today.<br /><br />The Big Bang Theory often have humorous slaps at Jews, Hindus, women, evangelists and of course Nerds. <br /><br />In life and on TV certain characters can say things that others can't. Carla on Cheers could get away with saying something that Diane or Woody couldn't. <br /><br />Lou DiPalma could say anything and it would be funny and you wouldn't be offended.The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33623108734047881512014-12-17T06:48:49.150-08:002014-12-17T06:48:49.150-08:00Thank you for clarifying original anonymous.Thank you for clarifying original anonymous.mmryan314https://www.blogger.com/profile/03956737239500293977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48483815657200714412014-12-17T04:34:22.753-08:002014-12-17T04:34:22.753-08:00And this begs a column from the inestimable Mr. Le...And this begs a column from the inestimable Mr. Levine.<br /><br />How do you create decent comedy in these days of political correctness, trigger warnings, advancing narratives and backlash?Anne in Rockwall, TXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00171076259617071023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22415048343416616292014-12-17T02:52:33.543-08:002014-12-17T02:52:33.543-08:00I always get a dubious about a movie whenever the ...I always get a dubious about a movie whenever the critics get all weak in the knees about a movie.Barry Traylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14134880916215990198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7458583438527814882014-12-16T23:09:39.885-08:002014-12-16T23:09:39.885-08:00--A Guy Who Actually Lives There said...
"Bo... --A Guy Who Actually Lives There said...<br /><br />"Boston was, historically, a very, very white city. Over 95%. The racial makeup of the city has changed a great deal, though, in recent decades. Whites now make up only about half of the city's population."<br /><br />Thanks for a bit of validation. I visited there a few times, back in the days of Cheers, and I rarely saw a black person, aside from college students. I didn't visit every area of Boston, but I noticed it was one of the whiter towns I'd ever visited.<br /> <br />btw, how many black folks were in "Good Will Hunting"? I don't seem to remember any black characters with lines to say, but I don't think it was because Mat and Ben were secret racists.<br /><br />-Anonymous 1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-14185767182254838492014-12-16T22:48:11.089-08:002014-12-16T22:48:11.089-08:00mmryan314 said...
"Oh WOW- Just WOW anonymous...mmryan314 said...<br />"Oh WOW- Just WOW anonymous."<br /><br />That last anonymous post was someone trying to make it seem they were me.<br /><br />I don't agree with the "shoving blacks in our faces" business. I don't think Cheers producers gave it that much thought, and if they did, they wouldn't be thinking that.<br /><br />I was just pointing out that Boston wasn't very diverse back in the Cheers days, and even less so before.<br /><br />Besides, did average black people even watch Cheers back then? I couldn't imagine why. It was chock full of "white people's problems." How many average black person would give a rat's behind if Sam got together with Diane?<br /><br />I'm willing to bet it was not many.<br /><br />-Anonymous 1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91664179178921458672014-12-16T20:52:52.833-08:002014-12-16T20:52:52.833-08:00Oh WOW- Just WOW anonymous. I guess no one will ev...Oh WOW- Just WOW anonymous. I guess no one will ever again mistakenly accuse you of being "pc".Other names may apply to you however.mmryan314https://www.blogger.com/profile/03956737239500293977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33146597999511941052014-12-16T20:07:21.771-08:002014-12-16T20:07:21.771-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-16848316266927616372014-12-16T19:22:56.446-08:002014-12-16T19:22:56.446-08:00I loved "Birdman." I guess the common co...I loved "Birdman." I guess the common complaints are valid, but for some reason it just worked for me. Shawn Rechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00318317213708218451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-88245389731003086942014-12-16T16:25:30.564-08:002014-12-16T16:25:30.564-08:00Tony Said:
"It's ethnically mixed."...Tony Said:<br /><br />"It's ethnically mixed."<br /><br />Yeah, try being black and walking at night in certain white areas of Boston back in the day. Even now white working class areas of Boston aren't too enthusiastic about black neighbors. Having a token black at the Cheers bar would have been asinine. Now go back to sleep, spanky. And dream about ethnically mixed Boston.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-36035076653760538322014-12-16T15:16:57.406-08:002014-12-16T15:16:57.406-08:00Ken, always remember to "check your privilege...Ken, always remember to "check your privilege." You don't want to run out of it on the freeway. Pat Reedernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43970632430072025332014-12-16T14:42:41.118-08:002014-12-16T14:42:41.118-08:00There's a fair argument to be made whether or ...There's a fair argument to be made whether or not Birdman even has a real story. It's more a character study of a bunch of stuff that happens. It's no real lofty narrative, but it was a pretty interesting couple of hours that made me think a lot, which is a pretty decent strike for any movieRoderick Allmansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00602761271741237589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-48571754570978669952014-12-16T13:52:31.706-08:002014-12-16T13:52:31.706-08:00Count me in the camp of the underwhelmed. Yes, th...Count me in the camp of the underwhelmed. Yes, the performances were very good overall. Yes, the camera technique were impressive. But as a film that's supposed to tell a story, it didn't really work for me. I can't in good conscience recommend that anyone see it because the good didn't outweigh the not-so-good.Sharon Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13833581634272390062014-12-16T13:21:25.100-08:002014-12-16T13:21:25.100-08:00Loved the movie, which at least called itself out ...Loved the movie, which at least called itself out re its pretentiousness I think.<br /><br />Good for Fox and Co. for greenlighting what is a surrealistic dark comedy about the Theater and Life Itself.<br /><br />And most of the time, it got there for me.<br /><br />Great work from Keaton and Stone. They both deserve and will get Oscar noms.<br /><br />Dixon Steelenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81591951708435833712014-12-16T13:18:56.617-08:002014-12-16T13:18:56.617-08:00To add to the insanity, in my opinion "smacki...To add to the insanity, in my opinion "smacking" Rhianna would have been in bad taste because of the abuse she suffered. However, I don't think Ken was literally thinking of smacking Emma Stone. I think adults gets the figure of speech used. Just amazing.<br /><br />Always liked Keaton. Seems like a good guy. He will always be Beetlejuice to me. Also liked Night Shift.<br />Janice B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45198607382577653672014-12-16T13:12:37.814-08:002014-12-16T13:12:37.814-08:00"Hey, look everybody! Tony's never been t..."Hey, look everybody! Tony's never been to Boston!"<br /><br />And apparently neither have you.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514127184704002111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3104192652246411582014-12-16T12:51:13.419-08:002014-12-16T12:51:13.419-08:00I have been to Boston. Many times, actually. I hav...I have been to Boston. Many times, actually. I have family there. It's an ethnically-mixed city. What's your point?Tonynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-90291275509969402822014-12-16T12:41:33.589-08:002014-12-16T12:41:33.589-08:00If Ken had said, "Rihanna's songs are so ...If Ken had said, "Rihanna's songs are so annoying you want to smack her," that would have been kind of offensive. But the Emma Stone comment didn't bother me. It's pretty commonplace to joke about smacking celebrities. After I saw <i>Birdman,</i> I wanted to smack the screenwriters for using so many stereotypes and clichés: Actors are egotists and fame whores; critics are mean-spirited and narrow-minded; super-hero movies are nothing but empty spectacle.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616847561066820280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24937130276422674102014-12-16T12:34:58.799-08:002014-12-16T12:34:58.799-08:00Tony Said:
"Was there a "Whites Only&q...Tony Said:<br /><br />"Was there a "Whites Only" sign outside the bar's front door?"<br /><br />Hey, look everybody! Tony's never been to Boston!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-33854354011730527912014-12-16T12:09:26.595-08:002014-12-16T12:09:26.595-08:00I'd like to add one small correction. Ken ment...I'd like to add one small correction. Ken mentioned that Birdman is "over two hours long". In fact, it is just under two hours in length. I'd hate for someone not to go see it because they mistook Ken's comment to mean it is one of those LOOONNGGG movies. Jon B.noreply@blogger.com