Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman is a creative and thought-provoking drama unlike any other film this year. Despite its nontraditional cinematography and jarringly strange scenes, Birdman leaves room to display the poignancy of the art of acting. The film has rightfully garnered Oscar buzz both for Best Picture and for Michael Keaton’s performance in the lead role.

Keaton plays a former fictional superhero-movie star named Riggan Thomson — a direct parallel to his performances as Batman in 1982 and ’92. Thomson, well past his prime, gives one last effort to revive his once-booming career by writing and starring in “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” an interpretation of Raymond Carver’s collection of short stories reimagined for the Broadway stage. Throughout the course of the movie, the imaginary character Birdman follows Thomson around as a reminder of his previous character. The audience is kept under a looming cloud of suspense as to when Thomson’s next breakdown will occur.

The play seems destined to fail from the onset, but big-time Broadway actor Mike Shiner (Edward Norton) joins the cast at the last minute in an attempt to save the show. Shiner and Thomson, the acclaimed Broadway actor and the washed-up celebrity, are constantly in contention for ultimate control over the play. The dynamic between Keaton and Norton, who both give stellar performances, creates some of the most intense scenes in the film.

Emma Stone also gives a convincing performance as Sam, Thomson’s daughter, who has recently returned from rehab to work as her father’s assistant. Thomson’s inability to build a solid relationship with his daughter contributes to his declining mental state. Thomson’s father-daughter saga serves as a counter narrative to Shiner and Sam’s budding romantic relationship, which Thomson struggles in vain to ignore.

Zach Galifianakis plays Jake, Thomson’s best friend and lawyer. Jake’s character is the least comedic of the bunch; Galifianakis gets to show off his range of acting talent, which had been largely untapped until now.

Because of the length of each scene, the viewer is forced to share in the anxiety and pain that Riggan feels over the course of the film. The documentary-like cinematography often allows the viewer to see what a particular character sees through the use of eye-line matching and the creation of off-screen space. These techniques give the film a claustrophobic feel that emphasizes the strong acting performances, especially those of Keaton and Norton. Because the film is made to appear as if it was shot in one take, there is no break from Riggan’s fractured psyche and desperation to succeed in his production, which helps heighten the tension of the film.

Iñárritu’s innovative style will surely influence many future filmmakers. The film does an excellent job of weaving Carver’s stories into a complex exposé about relationships and appearances. Birdman is a creative landmark and the type of film that stays with audience members long after they leave the theater.