Bird (1988)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writer (WGA):

Joel Oliansky (written by)

Release Date:

30 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

"There are no second acts in American lives." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Plot:

The troubled life and career of the jazz musician, Charlie "Bird" Parker.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Jazz | Drug Addict | 1940s | Drug Addiction

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

161 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

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:12

Filming Locations:

Birds Landing, California, USA

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

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.

Goofs:

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.

Quotes:

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Clint Eastwood: The Man from Malpaso (1993) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Parker's Mood

Something sad, something happy, and long but never boring, it's one of the more honest tributes to a musician in film

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+