Michael Keaton Says ‘It’s Kind of Bulls—‘ That ‘Birdman’ Got Touted as His Comeback Role Amid Oscar Buzz

As a seasoned movie-goer with decades of cinematic experiences under my belt, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Michael Keaton amidst his candid reflections on the “comeback” narrative surrounding his role in “Birdman.” Having followed his career since his iconic turn as Batman, I’ve seen him grace our screens consistently, and to label his return to prominence as a comeback seems somewhat disingenuous.


Michael Keaton seems to harbor some disagreement towards the entertainment industry for transforming his Academy Award-nominated performance in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” into a major Hollywood resurgence. The actor never embraced that awards season storyline, as he didn’t disappear or leave the industry in the first place.

“A highly intelligent individual, someone I held in high regard, commented about my ‘Birdman’ character, saying, ‘The comeback is the tale.’ This sparked a reaction from me: ‘ frankly, I find that somewhat unconvincing,'” Keaton stated in an interview with GQ magazine.

Keaton’s assessment seems quite plausible given his continuous acting career, as he hadn’t taken a significant break from acting for long periods. Over the past four years, he had been consistently appearing on screen with films like “RoboCop” and “Need for Speed”, thus keeping him in the public eye before the release of “Birdman” garnered him Oscar attention and praise.

“Keaton admitted he was considering fabricating that [return] tale, but he recognized that he would be lying whenever he discussed it. By the way, I’m familiar with the business world. I have an affinity for it. It doesn’t faze me when people say, ‘This is a business, friend.'”

“The primary factor contributing to Michael Keaton’s resurgence in the ‘Birdman’ narrative was due to the movie’s self-referential storyline. In the film, Keaton plays a former Hollywood star famous for his role as Birdman, which mirrors his own past as Batman actor. This connection between Keaton and his character became even more pronounced as the character struggles with his attempt to revive his acting career on Broadway. The success of this character’s transformation into a critically-acclaimed dramatic actor and the swift Oscar buzz surrounding Keaton’s performance formed an ideal awards season storyline that suggested Keaton was experiencing a remarkable comeback.”

Keaton earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, which he received due to his outstanding performance in “Birdman.” He went on to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Film and was further recognized with nominations at both the BAFTA Film Awards and SAG Awards. Eventually, “Birdman” claimed the Oscar for Best Picture.

Keaton shared with GQ that he never panics regarding his career plan. He advised against becoming desperate, as desperation leads to trouble. One should allow oneself to feel insecure and anxious at times, thinking “Wow, I’m not doing so well right now,” but never let desperation take over, because when you do, you’ve lost.

Head over to GQ magazine’s website to read Keaton’s cover story in its entirety.

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2024-08-22 00:46