Birdy

I am a huge fan of this film and I've hoped for a comprehensive edition ever since the laserdisc days. The ability to research features on various editions of the same movie is always troublesome here, because all reviews are lumped together. As of 2020, you'll want to order the Blu-ray released November 8, 2019, ASIN: B07GW2PHPH. I wasn't 100% sure when I ordered it that I'd be able to watch it in the USA, but it plays fine on a PS4. Now that Alan Parker has passed away, this 2K transfer that he supervised is likely the best we will ever see, and it includes his audio commentary. It's packed with other extras, and it's limited to 5000 copies. The thick booklet has extensive liner notes. The cover has the dark nude scene with the window, and it's reversible to the white cover art.

Highly recommend, great acting, great story line. At the end, reminded me of One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest but with a more down to earth, forgiving humor.

This movie should be watched by everyone!

I saw this when it came out and it is interesting to see it again after so long. Strong performances from a young Matthew Modine drive this film. A neat soundtrack by Peter Gabriel also sets the film apart from your typical fare. The only downside is some dialog that is heavy handed: I don't think everything needs to be spelled out for the kind of audience that would watch this to the end. But this film still stands as a unique experience.

Directed by the great Alan Parker starring the very young Nicolas Cage & Mathew Modine who both give performances that guys twice there age would have found hard to match.Credit must also go to to Alan Parker who took this literary WWII classic book and with an superb updated screenplay (Now set in Vietnam) makes this amazing, complex story even more accessible to people who don't read classics.Big Kudos to Peter Gabriel for creating the wonderful hypnotic yet powerful music soundtrack, and the superb cinematography for making this an underrated classic. Remember this was before CGI yet the camera flies like one of the birds.If you haven't seen the movie grab it cheap used on Ebay or Amazon for $5It still rings true after all these years. If you don't laugh and cry during this movie you are probably are1. Retarded or 2. A Sociopath and should seek professional help.

I had read the book earlier so was anxious to see how it would be presented on screen. I feel it was a good interpretation. Matthew Modine is very believable as Birdy even though he relies on a limited number of emotions. Cage does not fare quite so well. His bond to Birdy is not fully explained and his "bandage" make up is poorly applied. If you have interest in the subject matter you will enjoy the movie. I gave it a high rating despite some disappointments because I appreciate their efforts to deal with a difficult subject.

I really like both these guys, but I AM one of those Vets with PTSD and this just doesn't quite explain what goes on...........in my own brain, or others with this issue that I have shared my experiences with.

A fave. Alan Parker is great. Angel Heart was awesome too. Peter Gabriel soundtrack (bought that too!) Love the ending.

British film director Alan Parker’s 1984 film is an innovative, ambitious interpretation of William Wharton’s award-winning novel of the same name, arguably representing the high point of Parker’s career. Birdy is thematically very rich – at its heart focusing on Matthew Modine’s eponymous 'bird-obsessed’ outsider, coming of age in 1960s Philadelphia, and touching on issues of mental illness, repressive parenting, (homo)sexuality and the search for identity, but, with the advent of the Vietnam war, also, more directly, referencing shell shock, pacifism and the treatment of war veterans. Parker uses flashback narrative very effectively here, as the 'weirdo’ Birdy pals up (against type) with Nicolas Cage’s hunky, all-American boy, Al Columbato, their best-buddy antics being skilfully intercut with traumatic moments of war conflict and (most impressively) Al’s increasingly desperate (post-conflict) attempts to coax Birdy out of his mental malaise (in effect, a reincarnation in bird form).The 25-year old Modine is outstanding here, mixing laid-back, innocent naivety and apparent derangement brilliantly – other than great performances in films like Short Cuts and Full Metal Jacket Modine’s career seems to have passed me by – whilst (the even younger!) Cage is almost as good, keeping his later tendency for histrionics mostly in check. The scenes between the two convincingly depict an ever-deeper, tender friendship – particularly those in the 'asylum’, during which cinematographer Michael Seresin gives us some stunning shots of Birdy and John Harkins impresses as the creepy, increasingly fractious Dr Weiss. Parker also gives us many intriguing (often comedic) interludes, such as during Birdy’s attempts to fly and his disinterested attempts at adolescent seduction.It is, however, the depiction of Birdy’s mental state and imaginary world where Parker’s film scores most highly for me, whether during the dynamic flight sequences (where Peter Gabriel’s score particularly impresses) or during the various dream sequences, focusing on Birdy’s need for freedom and love of the natural world – there is a particularly powerful juxtaposition of his respect for living things with the destructive power of 'airborne things’ during battle.I don’t consider Parker’s film as flawless – for example, I’m not sure how Birdy convinced the authorities that he was ‘fit for battle’ and Parker’s film is perhaps a little too long – but for Modine’s performance and the film’s level of ambition, I think it worthy of a top rating.

Indicator have done a great job on this remaster.coupled with an interesting set of extras this is a worthy addition to any ones collection.

If you have never seen this you've missed a treat. Its a story of male friendship, of two teenage boys in the USA a rare thing to see well protrayed. Oone of the boys becomes fixated upon the idea of being able to fly hence his nickname of birdy. It also relays the horror experienced by young men who get sent to war. The sound track is by Peter Gabriel and adds to the action well. Not quite as good as the book (which dealt with the World Wars rather than a later conflicts ised here) Never the less a touching film, it will have you laughing and crying. It is one of my all time favorites.

I read the book first and thought it would be impossible to make a movie that blurred the lines between reality and fantasy the way the book did. I was wrong. There were plenty of funny moments in the movie based on a subject that would not normally attract mirth.

Very good and surprising film. I love it's music too