Foil

Character Role Analysis

Mike and Riggan

Riggan is a bigtime movie star and Mike is a bigtime Broadway actor.

The difference is that being bigtime in Hollywood means families are hailing you on the streets, vying for your affections in the form of autographs and selfies. Mike's fame, however, is amongst the critics who praise his performance upon the stage.

You can imagine that people who've had such different careers have very different ideas about success and purpose and art. It's clear that both have a lot invested in the play, but neither can see through their own selfishness to understand the other's perspective. They both long for respect and reputation and prestige, but are always at each other's throats, trying to define those things in their own way.