Micheal Keaton feels that his work is not appreciated much even after being in the industry for a long time. He attained acclaim for playing Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s ‘Batman‘ and movies like ‘Beetlejuice’, and ‘Johnny Dangerously’.
Keaton appeared in the movie ‘Birdman’ and his role was marketed as a “comeback” in Hollywood even though he had been working in movies without any break. The actor feels disheartened that his work hasn’t received the recognition it deserves.
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Micheal Keaton Calls Out ‘Birdman’ Being Touted As His Comeback Movie During Awards Season
Micheal Keaton has a bone to pick with the film industry for turning his Oscar-winning role in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s ‘Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)‘ into his grand Hollywood comeback. He recently told GQ magazine, “A, really, really smart guy, a guy I liked a lot, said, ‘Comeback — that’s the story. I went, ‘Honestly, it’s kind of bullsh*t.’”
Keaton considered the fact that he never stopped acting for any extended period. The actor was coming off four consecutive years in theatrical projects like ‘RoboCop‘ and ‘Need for Speed’, so he was never out of the spotlight when ‘Birdman’ came into the theatres which generated Oscar buzz.
He added, “I thought I could make that [comeback] story up, but I knew I’m going to be bullsh*tting every time I talk about it. By the way, I know business. I like business. Doesn’t bother me. You go, ‘This is a business, man.’”
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Micheal Keaton Was Perfect For The Role Of Birdman
A big reason Keaton was appreciated for his role was the meta-narrative of the movie. Keaton stars as a washed-up Hollywood actor best known for playing the popular superhero Birdman earlier in his career, a nod to Keaton’s history of playing Batman. The character’s comeback and immediate Oscar buzz with Keaton’s performance made the perfect recipe for a “comeback” story. He was nominated for the best actor at the Oscars for his performance and also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama Film apart from being was also nominated for BAFTA and SAG Awards. ‘Birdman’ also won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Keaton is at peace with himself now. “I never panic,” Keaton told GQ about his career strategy, adding, “If you get desperate, you’re f**ked. Don’t ever get desperate. You can get insecure and nervous, and go, ‘Wow, boy, I’m not doing so great right now.’ But when you get desperate, you’re dead.”
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