Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on William Wharton's transcendent novel of the same name, this film is about many things: friendship, war, and, of course, birds. The framing device is an effort by a horribly scarred combat soldier (Nicolas Cage) to break through to his best friend, Birdy (Matthew Modine), hospitalised after seemingly being driven mad by fighting in the Vietnam War. Cage then flashes back to their boyhood, where Birdy, a canary aficionado, was considered the school weirdo but managed to be a solid companion none the less. Directed by Alan Parker, it works best as a coming-of-age story, but misses the bizarre psychological transferences of the book, in which Birdy imagines himself within the world of canaries he creates in his bedroom at his parents' house. Modine is fine as an out-of-it misfit enraptured by his own little universe. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews:
Parker pulls off another classic..........2000-12-18
Alan Parker's 'Birdy' focuses on two war veterans struggling to cope with post traumatic stress disorder.
The movie is constucted cleverly as a series of flashbacks in which we see the two characters growing up together, one with a searing passion for birds, and the other with an infatuation for women. After their return from Vietnam, both men deal with their experiences in very different and bizarre ways.
The title character is committed to a mental hospital whilst his friend, who has suffered hoffific injuries in battle, fights to bring him back to sanity.
Matthew Modine and Nicholas Cage give arguably the best performances of their careers in this movie. Alan Parker's direction is faultless as he infuses aspects of humour with the heartbreaking reality of war. Peter Gabriel's soundtrack finishes the combination that makes this movie a 'must see'.
Alan Parker directed the movies 'Pink Floyd - The Wall' and 'Midnight Express' before 'Birdy'. He has since directed 'The Commitments' and 'Evita' amongst others.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on William Wharton's transcendent novel of the same name, this film is about many things: friendship, war, and, of course, birds. The framing device is an effort by a horribly scarred combat soldier (Nicolas Cage) to break through to his best friend, Birdy (Matthew Modine), hospitalised after seemingly being driven mad by fighting in the Vietnam War. Cage then flashes back to their boyhood, where Birdy, a canary aficionado, was considered the school weirdo but managed to be a solid companion none the less. Directed by Alan Parker, it works best as a coming-of-age story, but misses the bizarre psychological transferences of the book, in which Birdy imagines himself within the world of canaries he creates in his bedroom at his parents' house. Modine is fine as an out-of-it misfit enraptured by his own little universe. --Marshall Fine
Customer Reviews:
Parker pulls off another classic..........2000-12-18
Alan Parker's 'Birdy' focuses on two war veterans struggling to cope with post traumatic stress disorder.
The movie is constucted cleverly as a series of flashbacks in which we see the two characters growing up together, one with a searing passion for birds, and the other with an infatuation for women. After their return from Vietnam, both men deal with their experiences in very different and bizarre ways.
The title character is committed to a mental hospital whilst his friend, who has suffered hoffific injuries in battle, fights to bring him back to sanity.
Matthew Modine and Nicholas Cage give arguably the best performances of their careers in this movie. Alan Parker's direction is faultless as he infuses aspects of humour with the heartbreaking reality of war. Peter Gabriel's soundtrack finishes the combination that makes this movie a 'must see'.
Alan Parker directed the movies 'Pink Floyd - The Wall' and 'Midnight Express' before 'Birdy'. He has since directed 'The Commitments' and 'Evita' amongst others.
UK DVD:
- Bopha! [1993]
- Born On The Fourth Of July [1989]
- By The Sword Divided - Series 2
- Celine And Julie Go Boating [1974]
- Claire of the Moon [1992] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
- Clockers [1996]
- Code 46 [2003]
- Conviction : Complete BBC Series
- Cracker - To Be A Somebody [1994]
- Danielle Steel's No Greater Love [1995]
UK DVD List
UK DVD
![Birdy [1984]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21N797CYVRL.jpg)
All Drama
|
Drama
|
Categories
|
DVD
|
Video
![Racing With The Moon [1984]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0002W10S2.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Racing With The Moon [1984]
![The Boy In Blue [1986]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000NVI206.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
The Boy In Blue [1986]
Birdy: Original Soundtrack
![Guarding Tess [1995]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00005Q8UT.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Guarding Tess [1995]
![Honeymoon In Vegas [1992]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000064231.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Honeymoon In Vegas [1992]
![Birdy [1984]](http://www.bill88.com/buy.gif)
![Birdy [1984] (REGION 1) (NTSC)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21La1xuRWyL.jpg)
