I have a background in theatre and love plays. I enjoy musicals as much as the next person, but there's a special place in my heart for a straight play and we try to head into New York once a year (although some years more and some less - it's been almost two now sadly) to catch one on Broadway. I've been able to see some really incredible theatre like
Seminar starring Alan Rickman and
Grace with Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon this way. I adore a "smaller" play, because it feels more intimate even on Broadway and often you get to see actors you admire truly testing their limits on stage (I have so much more respect for Daniel Radcliffe after seeing him in
Equus, for example, because although I love
Harry Potter, a role like Alan Strang is very challenging and he managed it quite well).
So
Birdman really played to this strength, because it seemed to capture the style and intimacy you get with a play that movies just can't get in the same way. However, as much as that worked for the film, I also feel like it's what limited the film as well. The whole time I found myself thinking, "I would really rather see this on stage."
