Birdy

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Birdy

R,

1984,

2h 0m,

Drama

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84%

45 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Birdy returns from the Vietnam War scarred from the horrific experiences of battle. He is so damaged by what he saw that he has shut himself off from reality completely, imagining that he is actually a bird. Birdy is confined to a mental hospital, where the doctors are at a loss as to how to treat him. In an attempt to help, Al, his best friend from high school -- and who was also in Vietnam -- visits him every day to try and get through to him.

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Critics Consensus

Aided by strong work from Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage, Birdy finds director Alan Parker turning a supposedly unfilmable novel into a soaring -- and emotionally searing -- success.

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William Thomas

Empire Magazine

Dec 16, 2023

2/5

Despite the film's heavily symbolic tone, little is revealed about either of the characters or indeed the Vietnam War.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Dec 16, 2023

2.5/4

Far better as an antiwar film than as a poetic tribute to flight.

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

Dec 16, 2023

It may not satisfy hard-line lovers of the book, who may argue that William Wharton's eccentric characters should have remained between its covers, but for those who do not know the novel, or for less rigid William Wharton-ites, it is a risk well taken.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Aug 19, 2024

4/5

Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine give stellar performances as Philly youths torn apart physically and spiritually by war in Alan Parker's unsparing portrait of brotherly affection.

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Jeff Simon

Buffalo News

Dec 16, 2023

It has more cinematic integrity than 90 per cent of the rest of local movie fare combined. It ought to be seen.

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JoAnn Rhetts

Charlotte Observer

Dec 16, 2023

What's particularly gratifying about Cage's performance as the preening and pitiful Al is that it proves at long last that his delightful work in "Valley Girl" was no fluke.

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Ron W

Apr 25, 2017

Takes too long to peak and when it does it's for a few moments. Depressing in general.

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Alan Parker

Director

Matthew Modine

Birdy

Nicolas Cage

Sergeant Al Columbato

Sandy Baron

Mr. Columbato

John Harkins

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Synopsis

Birdy returns from the Vietnam War scarred from the horrific experiences of battle. He is so damaged by what he saw that he has shut himself off from reality completely, imagining that he is actually a bird. Birdy is confined to a mental hospital, where the doctors are at a loss as to how to treat him. In an attempt to help, Al, his best friend from high school -- and who was also in Vietnam -- visits him every day to try and get through to him.

Director: Alan Parker
Producer: Alan Marshall
Screenwriter: Jack Behr, Sandy Kroopf, William Wharton
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Delphi III Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround

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