Gus and I rented Oscar-winning Birdman Saturday night almost by accident. The words “blown away” come to mind. It’s a grown-up tale of a washed up movie star superhero trying to do something meaningful with the rest of his life. For him, this means producing a Broadway play based on Raymond Carver’s short story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” (note to self: purchase today).
Birdman left me shaken and stirred, enchanted, bewitched, and even – at the end – elated. Its percussive soundtrack felt exactly like the chaos in my own mind when anxiety threatens. It bends reality, introducing supernatural elements in ways that leave you guessing. Of the many questions it asks, the one that stays on my mind is this: What gives you wings to fly?
Second note to self today: purchase Kelly Link’s Get in Trouble: Stories. She’s gotten a lot of good press for a collection that might have a similar feel.
From the Huffington Post: “Kelly Link is known for imbuing quotidian events with a touch of the extraordinary. Her stories begin in settings we understand – on a prime time TV show, or in a quiet neighborhood – and slowly creep somewhere stranger and darker. In a recent interview she said, “I love ghost stories with all my heart.” Her affection for the strange is evident: with stories populated with aliens and superheroes. But aside from the wacky characters, the plots she weaves feel much like real life. Any fan of Karen Russell, Ursula K. Le Guin, and any other smartly written, fantastic stories should not miss out on Kelly Link.”
But first, don’t miss Birdman.
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Thanks to Kelly Corcoran for sending me the link to this gentle video spoof featuring Big Bird.
Thanks for the insightful recommendation, Jennifer. While I have not seen “Birdman,” you have inspired me to make the movie “Bookman,” about a washed-up librarian. Whaddya think? All the best.
I love it, Karl!! I can’t wait!!