Birdy

Name: Birdy
Genre: Drama, War
Released: December 21, 1984
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Bruno Kirby, Dolores Sage, George Buck, John Harkins, Karen Young

1984

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Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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Birdy

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: December 21, 1984 | R

Starring: Bruno Kirby, Dolores Sage, George Buck, John Harkins, Karen Young, Matthew Modine, Nancy Fish, Nicolas Cage, Pat Ryan, Sandy Baron

Summary: After two friends return home from the Vietnam War one becomes mentally unstable and obsesses with becoming a bird.

Director: Alan Parker

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: R

Runtime: 120 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

The strangest thing about Birdy which is a very strange and beautiful movie indeed, is that it seems to work best at its looniest level, and is least at ease with the things it takes most seriously. Read full review

100

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Birdy is one of those rare movies that successfully brings a psychological novel to the screen without sacrificing its saliency or complexity. Read full review

Bob Thomas

Birdy is a rare and rewarding film, certain to be cherished by filmgoers seeking an alternative to the standard formulas. [12 Feb 1985]

Staff (Not Credited)

A trifle self-indulgent - well, it is directed by Alan Parker - but never boring. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Belying the lightheartedness of its title, Birdy is a heavy adult drama about best friends and the after-effects of war, but it takes too long to live up to its ambitious premise. Read full review

Paul Attanasio

Some of director Alan Parker's compositions here are striking, expressionistic shots of dark shapes silhouetted against the blue light streaming through the asylum window. Then again, they're all the same -- after two hours, you're bored by them. Read full review

Empire William Thomas

In flashback, we see the pair's friendship develop through their childhood, but despite the film's heavily symbolic tone, little is revealed about either of the characters or indeed the Vietnam War. Read full review

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Gamzguy17

Aug 22, 2021

The film has strong qualities present with both its subject matter and Matthew Modine's body language acting, but the dramatic lead character demands for an actor who can come across as believable for 90% of the film. Cage, does not.

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