I am unsure as to whether this is a masterpiece or a trainwreck. As one reviewer pointed out: "The whole plot is the hole." Problem with this movie is it doesn't know what genre it should be pigeonholed in and thus ends up a chimeric mess as a platypus with dactyls misplaced or a fingerprint of a genius!
First of all, I am not a snotty reviewer who thinks The Birdman was a straight-out-of-the-world arthouse masterpiece or some bull dung like that. It isn't. Trust me. And also during the pre-internet era when certain movies were shoved down our throat by Jay Leno and Tonight Show and limited array of resources, we used to consider certain classics as de facto, unshakable verdict of true criticism that stands still and cannot be iconoclastically shoved aside. Such movies include.. ah yes Schindler's List, Godfather (yes I said it), Traffic, Citizen Kane, It's a Wonderful Life, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction and loads of other plethoras which were considered gold standard. As if these will always stand test of time and cannot be touched.
Nay sir. As someone born in 1982 or 1983 I forget, I am slowly getting into the Boomers Section. Thus these 'old' films are curated very, very selectively to cater to worth my time since like a true, hardened Gen Z of social media my attention span is that of a gnat.
Thus, I thoroughly enjoyed The Bishop's Wife, 12 Angry Men, Miracle on 34th Street (1947), To Kill a Mockingbird which I watched with my momma and This Birds.
While The Birds was a true, gem of a minimalist masterpiece, Vertigo was all over the place.
It starts off with a simple theme of a phobia that debilitates each of us at one form or another.
Then it moves on to something of The Exorcist - creepy AF.
Suddenly it becomes Romance and very soon a minor study of cataonia at hospital where his friendzoned chick like a true loyal fatih comes to pay him a visit -which by the way... what the heck happened to her? What an unresolved drama!
It also gives a flicker of surrealism and psychedelia with the nightmare scene.
And finally ends on a psychological mystery thriller detective note.
With a final flourish and grand finale of classic Hitchcockian signature.
How'vur there are lot of plotholes. As I already pointed out, where is the closure of his lady friend? Why would the person want to murder his wife? At first I thought Madeline was his wife and they dropped a dummy from the roof and Madeline and her husband in the act - not an ACTUAL wife.
Thus, the deus ex machina was extremely lazy.
As much as the 1950s San Francisco backdrop was mesmerizing, these odd little plot points was just too bothersome. Sure I can overlook someone not being aware of being followed at close and what not, but it just doesn't flow smoothly for me given the bar I set after watching The Birds. (Kinda like Shymalanesque "Sixth Sense" expectation).
However, one thing that DID do it for me was the final scene. I would have given this movie a straight up 4 if it wasn't for the final scene which is:
TICK OFF A MAN ENOUGH, HE WILL WALK THROUGH HIS WORST FEAR BE IT COBRAS, FIRE OR HEIGHTS.
And that's why folks, it could be hailed as a masterpiece!
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