Birdman Analysis

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u26tUeVITCU

Birdman (Inarritu, 2014)













I chose this film as it uses the technique of appearing to be one continuous shot to create and so is full of detail in every second.

This sequence is just before the climax of the film, capitalizing off the established tension between the characters played by Michael Keaton and Edward Norton.

Key elements include:

The use of one continuous shot creates a sense of anxiety as they walk – film is about theatre so is very theatrical

A medium close-up of the characters throughout the scene make the spectator feel like they are intruding

Drumming in the background makes speech have a rhythm

The way the camera stops and starts moving

The chaos and business of NYC helps to evoke that feeling in the scene

Birdman analysis:

One way in which cinematography is used in Birdman is through the use of a continuous shot, with the camera walking with the characters without cutting away. This is extremely effective as it puts the spectator right into the action, and helps heighten the tension of the scene, with the camera stopping and turning when the characters do – highlighting both the conflict between the characters and the general bustle of Broadway at night. The use of the longshot is also thematically relevant as Birdman is about theatre and in that form of entertainment there are no cutaways. To add to the sense of the spectator being with the characters, the camera stays at a medium close-up, giving the spectator the same field of vision, they would have if they were actually there. It also highlights the characters’ faces, focusing on the dialogue where all the tension is coming from.

Another way cinematography is used in Birdman is through the use of light and sound to create a tense atmosphere. The film is shot on-location so the night-sky and street lighting are both real, counting as mise-en-scene and helping to establish the realism of the scene. The bright street-lighting heavily contrasts with the dark night creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and conflict, emulating the feelings of the characters. Sound is also important here, with a fast-paced jazz drummer providing a musical backbone to the scene (being both diegetic as the drummer is seen on screen but also non-diegetic as the music doesn’t change volume when they walk away from him) and creating a rhythm behind the dialogue, making it more impactful. The music also keeps the pace of the film quick and adds the New York City night-time bustle. All these elements work together to create an atmosphere of tension, conflict, pressure and speed, perfectly capturing the mood that the script of Birdman conveys.



Comments

  1. Lisa SocratesSeptember 25, 2020 at 7:52 AM

    Many thanks Daniel for this detailed and focused analysis, where you sustain a highly detailed exploration. Your self-selected film and sequence are excellent for the purpose of this task where several key elements of film form come together to create meanings and responses. The particular aesthetic of Birdman enables you to point out the effective use of long takes, which as you also mentioned in the lesson, create the theatrical aspect of the film. Your written skills are strong and enable you to bring some key elements of film form together. Excellent ideas emerging which engage with all aspects of our analysis.

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