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Bird
1988
Charlie Bird Parker had been a hero of Clint Eastwood's since childhood, and Eastwood, having been disappointed in such jazz biopics as YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, really wanted to make a true jazz fan's movie about the music. He cast Forest Whitaker as Parker, the legendary alto sax player, and Diane Venora as Chan, Parker's wife. .. Read more
| Starring | Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora |
|---|---|
| Director | Clint Eastwood |
| Genres | Drama |
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Bird
Charlie Bird Parker had been a hero of Clint Eastwood's since childhood, and Eastwood, having been disappointed in such jazz biopics as YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN, really wanted to make a true jazz fan's movie about the music. He cast Forest Whitaker as Parker, the legendary alto sax player, and Diane Venora as Chan, Parker's wife. The film shows how Parker, a genius who changed the face of modern music, was hampered and eventually destroyed by his appetite for women, food, and drugs. The two leads do a great job giving a recognizable human face to the characters' complex relationship. With wit and warmth, BIRD tells the story in direct and honest terms, avoiding all sentimentality. Eastwood's love of Parker's music comes across in the tremendous care that he and composer Lennie Niehaus took with reconstructing it, using Parker's original solos. Eastwood and cinematographer Jack N. Green also patterned the dark, moody look of the film after old photos of musicians who used to appear in jazz magazines. Music lovers will be thrilled with the result, and movie lovers will find plenty to engage them in this moving tale of a great man battling his demons.
| Starring | Forest Whitaker, Diane Venora |
|---|---|
| Director | Clint Eastwood |
| Studio | WARNER HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 34 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 21 May 2007 Production year: 1988 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Eastwood's Bird is bravely the Bird of the jazz faithful, with few concessions. Most of the exaggerations and... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Clint takes a holiday.
How can a man who played Dirty Harry be responsible for directing work of this quality? It beggars belief that we haven't seen more of this sensitive, honest and substantial side of him. Among the performers, Forrest Whittaker is marvellous as Charlie Parker, bringing irony and humour to a role that could be spoiled by more of a 'trophy' actor. One of the real triumphs of the movie is the music (unsurprising) which has been re-worked to feature original Charlie Parker saxophone alongside entirely new and modern backing tracks. The two meld together so well, it simply sounds like a recording from the grave made yesterday. Any jazz fan would be delighted by this, but its a human story first, so settle down with a scotch and milk and enjoy.
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Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
slow slow slow!
I love birds playing but I don't know a great deal about his life.
I found this film painfully slow and didn't finish it. The acting was fine but as with one of the previous reviewers I just couldn't get through it.
Gripping it aint! -
News and features
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The Last King of Scotland
- 08 Jan 2007
A big, hulking actor with a lazy eye, Forest Whitaker has always been a very physical actor - when you think of his performances, you think of how he carries himself. The way he seemed to pour himself into the saxophone in Clint Eastwood's Charlie Parker biopic, Bird, for example; or his solitary grace in Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai; or the way he bigs it up to out-hustle Paul Newman in The Color of Money. In The Last King of Scotland Whitaker plays Idi Amin, the former British army... Read more
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