Whirlybird

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2:36

Poster for

Whirlybird

2021,

1h 43m,

Documentary

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Whirlybird: Trailer 1

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Watchlist

82%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, husband-and-wife team Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (then known as Bob) covered some of the city's most dramatic events and changed breaking news forever. An entirely unique view of Los Angeles presented through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, WHIRLYBIRD reframes many of the city's pivotal moments, including the L.A. riots and the O.J. Simpson pursuit.

Critics Consensus

Whirlybird might have benefited from a more patient approach, but it remains a fascinating -- and often thrilling -- look at what goes into making the news.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Aug 7, 2021

Interesting and worth knowing.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Aug 6, 2021

Quibbles aside, "Whirlybird" proves a memorably evocative time capsule of 1980s and '90s Los Angeles and the people who made - and captured - the news, as well as a stirring portrait of regret.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Aug 6, 2021

2.5/4

We cannot help wishing, as we do so often in watching what passes for news these days, that this story was told with more insight, context, and, well, focus.

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David Reddish

Queerty

Mar 13, 2022

3.5/4

Both admirers and detractors of Zoey Tur will find no shortage of ammunition here, as Yoka does a remarkable job at keeping his film objective, and with some of the most incendiary documentary footage on record.

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A.S. Hamrah

The Baffler

Jan 18, 2022

Close to a hundred million people watched that live. Whirlybird is an invaluable document on how it happened.

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Phil Guie

Film-Forward.com

Aug 29, 2021

4/5

Given that the Turs participated in the documentary and, in theory, gave their blessing to whatever footage was recycled, it's both surprising and remarkable to see their troubled marriage depicted in such unflinching terms.

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Matt Yoka

Director

Marika Gerrard

Self

Zoey Tur

Self

Katy Tur

Self

Andrea James

Writer

Diane Becker

Producer

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Synopsis

Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, husband-and-wife team Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (then known as Bob) covered some of the city's most dramatic events and changed breaking news forever. An entirely unique view of Los Angeles presented through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, WHIRLYBIRD reframes many of the city's pivotal moments, including the L.A. riots and the O.J. Simpson pursuit.

Director: Matt Yoka
Producer: Diane Becker, Matt Yoka
Screenwriter: Andrea James, Andrea James
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Fishbowl Films, Different by Design, World of Wonder Productions, Submarine Entertainment, Steady Orbits
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 6, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 6, 2021
Runtime: 1h 43m

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