The sight of Birdman in the bathroom made him realize that no amount of fame or acceptance can cure his demented mind and ego, and in that frustration, he jumps out of the window to commit suicide. Massive spoilers forBirdman follow. In the original ending, Johnny Depp would be the next in line (so to speak) when it comes to dealing with what Riggan was dealing with. Some lovely, others hideous. To me there seem to be two interpretations: one optimistic; one somewhat depressing or, at least, downbeat. "But we Ego Birdman represents Riggans ego. For the writer quotes. (E.g. Then again by the continuous takes from the stage to the back-stage with no breaks in dialogue. Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? I can come up with an explanation regarding the ending of the movie. ]S: DadR: What? They do exist. The theory brings full-circle thematic through-lines where, R: Let me look at it.S: Mm-mm. You could take it very literally as a sign shes having a mental break, suffering an onset of the kind of hallucination-based illness that plagued her father. Youre doing a play based on a book that was written 60 years ago, for a thousand rich, old white people whose only real concern is gonna be where they go to have their cake and coffee when its over. By combining the screenwriter's line and the intermediate flying scene, I can say that his daughter surprised, being happy and watching his father flying in the end is Riggan's state of mind. However, he's still damaged (and possibly demented)goods - ultimatelyjumping out the hospital window to his death. He's also not firing haphazardly. respect. express that sense of confusion about what he is in his own life. The simple answer is: mental illness. Which was the first Sci-Fi story to predict obnoxious "robo calls"? elements of magical realism established by director Alejandro Gonzlez Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. Why in the Sierpiski Triangle is this set being used as the example for the OSC and not a more "natural"? Yeah, this is what I wanted. Beginning: He was not famous, family is not functional, daughter is in rehabilitation, one of the main character is being played by a mediocre actor in his play. [Riggans wipes his mouth with the piece of toilet paper. Lets look at the three main conversations Riggans daughter Sam Thomson (Emma Stone) has with her father. The first happens early on, when Riggan is at his most stressed about putting together a Broadway play and he and Sam are the most at odds. Let's explore. The second involves the discussion of the marks Sam makes on sheets of toilet paper. That knows him for who he is and loves him for who he is, flaws and all. That need to prove you not only still have value but your very existence. Hes reminded of his humanity. Dinelaris said "a few different approaches" were considered, including I do think this explanation is a bit of a stretch while the script does seed in that Sam is a bit mentally unstable, the look she has at the end is more rapturous and joyful than it is one of madness. You don't even have a Facebook page. the actor experiences a happy ending hallucination - a death dream Fame isnt a panacea. What did he want in life? First, here's a description of the ending from Wikipedia, which matches my understanding of how things happened: On opening night, the performances are better than ever. Its all twisted perception rather than magic. He really dies, as is evidenced by the jump cuts and scenes from his life, ending with jellyfish on the Both sides of Riggan simply feed into his desire for acceptance, one commercial and one critical, and as such are both just symptoms of his self obsession. But there are a few moments with Sylvia and Sam where the career stuff falls away. I felt it and the film began to breathe by itself, and the characters began to grow. Physically and emotionally. The elderly husband, stuck in a cast that wouldnt let him turn his head, was distraught by the fact he couldnt look over and see his wife, missing the very sight of her. Hes all about honesty this, honesty that when it comes to the stage. Yet, over the course of Birdman, Sam learns more about him. Still, the old ending suggests that, at the very least, theory 1 (Riggan Dies on Stage. But in Birdman, Ed gets elevated to an actual character. Riggan was in a taxi the whole time but didnt interpret it that way so we didnt see it that way. In my opinion he jumped and died. You hate bloggers. Yet, as the film unfolds, Riggan begins to learnthathe's given the world more than just Birdman - and that a comic book character isn't the sole markof his time on Earth. His daughter comes in and immediately tweets a picture of him in the bandages, telling him he "looks hideous," but informing him that he is a hit on social media. EDIT: to silence Birdman's abusive voice. And the studios gonna call again and well get some book deals. It was bad.") His death was said to be a surprise to those who knew him well. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The essential explanation of BIRDMAN | Ending | Meaning | Point. The same thing happens when hes telekinetically destroying his dressing room. It would be so embarrassing. This is why he flew at the end (to heaven we can assume). We'll get to that a bit further on. If it was all Riggan's dream, the Depp cameo (and larger concept of talented actors crippled bysuccess inan iconic role), carries a bit less weight. Only That's not how the movie actually ends. This makes sense, as everything after that is perfect - he gets a rave review for his performance, a standing ovation and a heart-warming moment with Sam. I don't think Riggan died at all. Look back at Sams big monologue about relevancy. They mention this in every interview I've seen. And you know what, youre right, you dont. I think possibly he died after jumping out of the window but as the writers stated in the Huffington Post Q and A quoted above, the ending was written in a way to not detract from the central questions of the film. It turns out Lauras lying. Alejandro Gonzlez Irritu'sBirdmanis one of the most technically dazzling and thematically ambitious films of the year. But, on the other hand, neither is love. It's a technique copied from Hal Ashby's "Being There" but not as impactful. Youre doing this because youre scared to death, like the rest of us, that you dont matter., Lo and behold, the line we keep hearing Riggan say as Ed is: I dont exist. Shes concerned about his health, his wellbeing, both mentally and physically. Johnny Depp would have been playing Riggan Thomson in a play about Riggans life. Its a surreal moment, but I think it captures the fact that the stage may be sacred to many but it isnt safe. That she understands him. I think theyre trying to remind us thats all our ego and self-obsession are worth [a single sheet of toilet paper]. In an epilogue that is enigmatic and affecting, we learn that Riggan survived because he fired the gun incorrectly and only ended up destroying his nose. One success, no matter how much of a hero you feel like in the moment, wont change a lifetime of damage. Similarly, afterIrritu teased the possibility that Riggan's superpowers are justin his head (by showing an angry cabbie chasing Riggan after hissecond act mid-town flying sequence),Samantha Thompson (Emma Stone) actually sees her father hoveringin the sky - proving that Riggan didn't just imagine his powers, he really can fly. Fundamentally, hedefies his critics: both his audience (in the film) and the audience (us as viewers) - who were skeptical that the actor was anything more than a washed-uphack losing his mind. To hit bottom he realizes he must do something life-threatening and plain insane. Sure. Not literally, she just attacks him with words and kills his soul. Maybe not to you, or your cynical friends whose only ambition is to go viral. The man was unwell. You hate bloggers. I wonder how a "correct" answer can be chosen for this question :). I dropped in to see each of them every day, sometimes twice a day if I was up doing other calls anyway. Jake is right, this is what Riggan wanted. Desire for love - the words shown during the opening credits from Carver are key. Mr Murdaugh was shot in early September, which came a day after he resigned from his law firm. Its like when Riggan tells Lesley (Naomi Watts) that shes important and lovely and that he needs her. But with Riggan internationally famous yet again, Riggan seemingly happy, and his whole family back on his side, isn't the movie saying that sometimes that obsession is worth it? That shows he loves her. The final theory blends elements of the priortwo - suggesting that the hospital scene is real but the end result is the same, Riggan successfully commits suicide. Riggan has both, but still cant not go to that window. But off stage, he lies and politics and manipulates. The first Is this for real, or are you shooting a film? You mock Twitter. The closing scenes represent his final thoughts before dying. Note this "suicide" is done in private, without any witnesses. Because the changes are relevant to what Irritu, as writer and director, wants to say with Birdman. Parabolic, suborbital and ballistic trajectories all follow elliptic paths. Theyre more alike than Sam had ever realized. That moment is probably when Riggan goes to the roof, drunk, feeling scared and overwhelmed, and seems moments away from flying. Except some kind stranger saves him. Meaning, this is the film trying to demonstrate that there are two parts to Riggan - the side that thinks financial success is important, represented by Birdman, and the that believes in proving himself critically. Oh, Im sorry.S: You just wiped out the entire human race.R: [Laughing] There it goes. The fact that its not clear what happened at the end is perfect. Why is Birdman subtitled The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance? CLICK on any topic to jump directly to it: As mentioned,Irritu leaves Birdman open to audience interpretation and, like most great stories, there are multiple ways of interpreting the ending. I mean, who are you? He has a bird nose, he can fly, and hes loved by everyone. Even if they respect what he does as an actor. When his daughter looks down, she sees his dead body and experiences a psychotic break, resulting in her look upwards at the end. So we transfer them out to their own room. Uh, Im gonna get a vase for the flowers.R: Okay. Andrew Martin gives 3 excellent interpretations of the ending in his response to a question about the telekinesis in the movie. His most satisfyi For most of her life, he existed less as a person and more as a figment or broken promise in the shape of a person. But that doesnt mean there isnt beauty. After shooting himself on-stage, Riggan was set toappear ona Charlie Rose-like show - following apositive reception to his play. He would, very quickly, cease to exist (again). All that being said, I think my explanation of the film's ending, if accurate, makes the film a bit self-defeating. According toDinelaristhe ending had to be scrapped because the production team could not get Depp nor the rights for a mock Pirates of the Caribbean 5 poster. This movie doesn't just want to make you feel something, it wants to say something about humanity and stardom and the inner lives of celebrities and the "cultural genocide" that superhero films have wrought upon us. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Ultimately the writers decided to go with an ending that felt in very small. This play is gonna last forever. And you know what, youre right, you dont. Everything he says comes back to money and career and attention. character Riggan Thomson floating in his underwear three feet above R: I was a sh*tty father, wasnt I?S: No, you were [hesitates]You were fineR: [Sad] Yeah, thats right. According to Rolling Stone, Seattle police responded to a domestic dispute on March 18. Specific interpretations will, of course, vary. Perhaps the film is showing us what Riggan wants his daughter to see out of his final actions? Taken the steering wheel through the sternum. Its a fever dream that goes from crowd applause to a comet streaking through the sky to a marching band on the theater stage to the motel room set where Riggan shot himself to Spider-Man appearing on stage to the comet to more superheroes on stage, a Transformer fights a superhero, to a beach full of jellyfish (recalling Riggans story of trying to drown himself in the ocean but getting stung by jellyfish) to the hospital ceiling and Riggan waking up. And Birdman is very much a live-wire of a movie, a risk that could have blown up in everyones face. Sam lays her head on Riggans chest. By the time I got down there, the kid was dead, as I said. But to me To me this is - God. What we say about it doesnt change the movie which just is what it is. Cool. Given that its the world her father has given his life to, what Sams doing in her conversations with Mike goes beyond mere superficial flirtation. Riggin was hallucinating one last chance at doing things right, being a legitimate husband, father and actor, and not a sell-out. Hes finally come to terms with his life, and hes ready to fly away, as Birdman, into the sunset. Thus, I posit that the very last shot of the film is Innaritu's way of joining the metaphorical/imagined with the real. And you act like it doesn't even exist! he took a taxi back to the theatre and didn't pay for it no flying involved.). Smiling and laughing isnt how everyone would react. That, to me, is why we have the transition scene between the gunshot and the hospital. Or even second viewing. Things are happening in a place that you ignore, a place, that by way, has already forgotten about you. Shes the legacy of his personal life. They were in a bad way, believe me. There were 3 times we were shown Riggan flying (or at least in the air.). Well, guess what? He really dies, as is evidenced by the jump cuts and scenes from his life, ending with jellyfish on the beach from his last suicide attempt. ("Down" being where Riggan would presumably be, if he did in fact jump without actual the ability to fly.) Theres no I dont exist monologue. Whether Riggan is a victim of his crazedpsyche, after years of schizophrenic-like Birdman voices, or chooses to commit suicide to cement his legacy, it can be assumedthatthe actor falls to his death. She isnt trying to be the next big star. (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance ending) ArcherGorgon 9 yr. ago. The theory brings full-circle thematic through-lineswhere, after proving he isworthy of esteem and love, Riggan isfinally able to silence Birdman's abusive voice. Our discussion is going to be full of SPOILERSfor Birdman, soREAD NO FURTHER unless youre all caught up. And Sam understands that now, this alter ego of his. The point of that symbolism was a little more obvious in the films original ending, which had nothing to do with a hospital room or jumping out a window. And you act like it doesnt exist. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. And you act like it doesnt exist. After reading the last paragraph for couple more times, especially this line. One especially popular theory asserts that, in spite of what is shown in the closing moments of the film (specifically: the hospital bed reunion scene), Riggan does not survive hison-stagesuicide attempt. The public will keep alive the memory of Riggan Thomson the actor, but they didnt know Riggan Thomson the man. You hate bloggers. His work was done. Well, she looked happy looking up not "downstairs" Plus there were sounds of shouting people and the police Can you cite some of the sources you're referring to, and possibly provide any relevant quotes from the writers to back this up? 7. r/Gotham. It's brought up by Edward Norton's character during the truth or dare game when he says he can get it up on-stage but not off-stage. Broken relationships abound. Another evaluationof the ending suggests that Riggan, for whatever reason, isn't just an actor who played a flying superhero, he's actually a superpowered being - capable of defying gravityand, presumably, physics (via telekinesis). Career-wise, Riggan absolutely achieved what he had hoped for. Hes created a work that means something. This is what were talking about when we talk about Riggan being more comfortable in work than life. I took one look at the couple and told the ER nurse to get me a neurologist and an orthopedic man and a couple of surgeons down there right away [] So we took the both of them up to the OR and worked like fuck on them for most of the night. Well, there's a whole world out there where people fight to be relevant every day. Relevancy, artistry, and meaning in the twilight years of what had been a successful career. Instead of telekineses, Riggans just throwing stuff around. Jake: I have been reborn brother, and I can see the future. An example of this is when he flies across New York, landing near his theatre and walking insie - only to be followed by an angry taxi driver demanding payment, indicating that Riggan didn't fly at all, and instead took a cab, forgetting to pay as he is wrapped up in his delusion. Hearing voices. And, um, this [tears off one sheet of toilet paper from the roll] is how long humans have been herea hundred and fifty thousand years. That is the way he wanted to remember her. The Ed character is nothing more than a point of discussion for Carvers main characters. It is hard to say exactly when this scene starts because of the fact that the whole movie is shot in the illusion of being one continuous take. The actor just looks the part and clearly had a blast. You can read about this from the Director on your own. Sam bringing flowers serves as a contrast to the beginning of Birdman and also brings us full circle. Birdmans voice is a representation of Riggan's commercial self - the part of him that wants to quit the stage show, forget the desire for critical rather than financial success, and create more Birdman films. Both: [Laugh]R: What are you doing?S: Im posting a photo on your Twitter page. Of his depression. The first time is when he shoots himself in the head onstage. You dont even have a Facebook page. Remember the opening poem? I've seen various interpretations of this, but I think Riggan's powers are a physical manifestation of his own self-inflated sense of importance, or an imagined way of his inner-Birdman persona empowering him. [That] is good enough for me," Dinelaris said. Again, details of his exact cause of death were sparse, but some reports claimed the sad death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot Importantly, neither side of Riggan is "correct" or healthy - his own daughter (Emma Stone) comments on his self-obsession and his desire for acceptance at one point and links this with his seperation from his family.