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Bird Reviews

1988

60
from 1076 members

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, Michael Zelniker
Director	Clint Eastwood
Genres	Drama, Music/Musical

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Most helpful member's review of Bird
View all members' reviews (15)
- - 12
  - 0
  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, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 128816
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Phil King
  - Kettering, England
  - 29 Jul 2005 at 00:48
Most recent members' reviews of Bird
View all members' reviews (15)
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird of a Feather
  
  Heavy going but quite a wonderful film. Charlie 'Bird' Parker was certainly his own legend.
  
  Unless you're into jazz give it a miss.
  
  Report this review
- 1025658
- - Emjay69
  - 320 reviews
  - Kidlington, Oxford
  - 05 Aug 2011 at 15:06
- - 0
  - 0
  Should have been better
  
  Being a jazz fan I decided to give this film a go. I have to say that I agree with another reviewer who complained about the flashbacks. I found it difficult to... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 968786
- - Taylor74
  - 3 reviews
  - Flintshire
  - 28 Feb 2011 at 15:38
- - 1
  - 1
  Sad .. Obvioulsy
  
  I knock off stars here for only one reason - the focus was almost entirely on the sad aspects of life ; it was rather a dark film. There were too many flashback... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 868804
- - Jimmy223
  - 10 reviews
  - London
  - 04 Mar 2010 at 14:59
- - 1
  - 1
  bird
  
  clint eastwood should of thought long and hard before making this i didnt know what yr he was supposed to be in as it kept flashing to different yrs and made ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 839484
- - a customer
  - Newcastle upon Tyne
  - 13 Dec 2009 at 17:23
- - 0
  - 1
  got this for my husband!
  
  I'm not really a'Bird' fan, but I thought Forrest Whitaker did a great job. Husband seemed to enjoy it.
  
  Report this review
- 836539
- - VickiM
  - 46 reviews
  - Berkhamsted
  - 02 Dec 2009 at 19:01
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  I last watched this 20 years ago when it first came out. It really stands the passage of time. Brilliant work by Forest Whitaker.
  
  Report this review
- 816413
- - BonnieandClyde
  - 6 reviews
  - Stoke-on-Trent
  - 30 Sep 2009 at 22:22
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  An interesting, yet ultimately mystified and inaccurate portrayal of the tragic end of Charlie Parker's life and career. This extremely selective and one -... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 725278
- - a customer
  - London
  - 12 Mar 2009 at 22:10
- - 1
  - 0
  BIRD
  
  Brilliantly acted but flawed biopic of the great jazz legend charlie parker .
  
  Someone needed to take this film on , congratulations to eastwood for ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 711312
- - a customer
  - scotland
  - 18 Feb 2009 at 18:09
- - 2
  - 0
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 593450
- - a customer
  - grange over sands
  - 06 Jul 2008 at 10:35
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  The genius and ultimate tragedy of Charlie 'Bird' Parker is superbly portrayed in this
  
  excellent biopic. Clint Eastwood's love of jazz ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 593431
- - Milesahead
  - 1 review
  - Lyndhurst
  - 06 Jul 2008 at 08:06
View all members' reviews (15)

- - 12
  - 0
  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, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 128816
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Phil King
  - Kettering, England
  - 29 Jul 2005 at 00:48
- - 3
  - 0
  couldnt get on with it
  
  i dont mind slow films, clever films, weird films but for some reason i just couldnt settle into this one. maybe i will have to watch it again... :(
  
  Report this review
- 548975
- - markyl1973
  - 140 reviews
  - Brighton
  - 04 Apr 2008 at 07:27
- - 2
  - 0
  Just a little too self-indulgent
  
  Eastwood's love of the music is self-evident and there are many aspects of Bird that are lovingly crafted and skilfully executed. In the end, though, the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 543862
- - maxwurr
  - 119 reviews
  - Middlesex
  - 23 Mar 2008 at 23:33
- - 2
  - 0
  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... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 593450
- - a customer
  - grange over sands
  - 06 Jul 2008 at 10:35
- - 1
  - 0
  Cool film
  
  Really low-key & non-sensational film. Could have sensationalised the drugs, booze & womanizing but majors on the jazz instead. Nothing wrong with that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 559904
- - MerseyHoop
  - 7 reviews
  - Liverpool
  - 28 Apr 2008 at 22:50
- - 1
  - 0
  4 and a half stars.....
  
  Is what I wih I could have given this. I am a fan of Parker, and have read several biographies about his short, eventful and influential life. Eastwood's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 569715
- - BigMark
  - 9 reviews
  - Oakham
  - 28 May 2008 at 14:57
- - 1
  - 0
  BIRD
  
  Brilliantly acted but flawed biopic of the great jazz legend charlie parker .
  
  Someone needed to take this film on , congratulations to eastwood for ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 711312
- - a customer
  - scotland
  - 18 Feb 2009 at 18:09
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  The genius and ultimate tragedy of Charlie 'Bird' Parker is superbly portrayed in this
  
  excellent biopic. Clint Eastwood's love of jazz ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 593431
- - Milesahead
  - 1 review
  - Lyndhurst
  - 06 Jul 2008 at 08:06
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  An interesting, yet ultimately mystified and inaccurate portrayal of the tragic end of Charlie Parker's life and career. This extremely selective and one -... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 725278
- - a customer
  - London
  - 12 Mar 2009 at 22:10
- - 0
  - 0
  Bird
  
  I last watched this 20 years ago when it first came out. It really stands the passage of time. Brilliant work by Forest Whitaker.
  
  Report this review
- 816413
- - BonnieandClyde
  - 6 reviews
  - Stoke-on-Trent
  - 30 Sep 2009 at 22:22

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- - Buy
- 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 ...