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Bird (1988)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
30 September 1988 (USA) moreTagline:
"There are no second acts in American lives." - F. Scott FitzgeraldPlot:
The troubled life and career of the jazz musician, Charlie "Bird" Parker. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Forest Whitaker Will Unveil Oscar Nominations 1/22 (From BroadwayWorld.com. 20 January 2009, 8:13 PM, PST)
Golden Globe Winners vs. Oscars: The 2009 Update!
(From Rope Of Silicon. 11 January 2009, 11:34 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Something sad, something happy, and long but never boring, it's one of the more honest tributes to a musician in film moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Forest Whitaker | ... | Charlie 'Bird' Parker | |
| Diane Venora | ... | Chan Parker | |
| Michael Zelniker | ... | Red Rodney | |
| Samuel E. Wright | ... | Dizzy Gillespie | |
| Keith David | ... | Buster Franklin | |
| Michael McGuire | ... | Brewster | |
| James Handy | ... | Esteves | |
| Damon Whitaker | ... | Young Bird | |
| Morgan Nagler | ... | Kim | |
| Arlen Dean Snyder | ... | Dr. Heath | |
| Sam Robards | ... | Moscowitz | |
| Penelope Windust | ... | Bellevue Nurse | |
| Glenn Wright | ... | Alcoholic Patient (as Glenn T. Wright) | |
| George Orrison | ... | Patient with Checkers | |
| Bill Cobbs | ... | Dr. Caulfield |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
161 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
Australia:M | Argentina:18 | UK:15 | Spain:13 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-10 | Norway:10 | Sweden:11 | USA:R | Germany:12 | Iceland:12Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The project was originally intended for Richard Pryor at Columbia Pictures eight years earlier. Persuaded by Clint Eastwood, Columbia traded it to Warner Bros. for Revenge (1990/I) which he was originally the director of. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: When Charlie Parker goes to Dizzy Gillespie's house in the middle of the night and asks Dizzy to write down a tune, the year is 1953. The tune is "Now's the Time", which was published and recorded in 1949. moreQuotes:
Chan Parker: Dizzy sent you a birthday card. Seems he's back in town. Do you owe him a phone call?Charlie Parker: I owe Dizzy everything...except a phone call.
more
Soundtrack:
Parker's Mood moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Bird (1988)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| A Failure of a biopic | epatten67 |
| How is the music in this? | zurichpoet |
| Why was it Rated R? | mcbain20 |
| Best Jazz Movie Ever? | hansvandergeest |
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Clint Eastwood's direction was very suitable for the material in this film, dealing with subjects he cares much about (music, loners, risking on the edge), and his handle on Bird, for my money, was wonderful. It's not an easy film to take, and it asks a lot from one in the viewing (it's a big film, with a plot complex, but not confusing, but is rewarding for those with a good interest Charlie Parker and the days of 40's-50's jazz. It's arguable whether there might be flaws in some of the uses of symbolism or bits of dialog in Joel Oliansky's script. But it's strong points - Forest Whitaker's major breakthrough in the title role; the bountiful and superb collection of Parker songs on the soundtrack (with a fine score by Lennie Neuhaus); a keen eye for getting the atmosphere and lighting right by Eastwood - are worth the viewing.
Like most films about musicians with demons in the back of their heads (i.e. Ray, The Doors, even Amadeus), there is a level of possible melodrama that has to be crossed. With Bird, Parker is an interesting subject with this, and is ultimately shown well to be redeemed by the music. Likely to become more appealing, or at least easier to take on a second viewing, Bird is a solid, inspiring movie, with a kind of feeling to it that is unique. A+