Synopsis
Two young men are seriously affected by the Vietnam War. One of them has always been obsessed with birds - but now believes he really is a bird, and has been sent to a mental hospital. Can his friend help him pull through?
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Cast
- Matthew ModineBirdy
- Nicolas CageSergeant Al Columbato
- John HarkinsDoctor Major Weiss
- Sandy BaronMr. Columbato
- Karen YoungHannah Rourke
- Bruno KirbyRenaldi
- Nancy FishMrs. Prevost
- George BuckBirdy's Father
- Dolores SageBirdy's Mother
- Pat RyanJoe Sagessa
Recommendations
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
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. - 100
TV Guide Magazine
Birdy is one of those rare movies that successfully brings a psychological novel to the screen without sacrificing its saliency or complexity. - 88
The Associated Press
Birdy is a rare and rewarding film, certain to be cherished by filmgoers seeking an alternative to the standard formulas. [12 Feb 1985] - 80
The New York Times
Mr. Modine's performance is exceptionally sweet and graceful; Mr. Cage very sympathetically captures Al's urgency and frustration. Together, these actors work miracles with what might have been unplayable. - 70
Time Out
A trifle self-indulgent - well, it is directed by Alan Parker - but never boring. - 50
Variety
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. - 50
Washington Post
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. - 50
The New Yorker
Directed by Alan Parker, the movie takes itself inordinately seriously as a moral fable expressing eternal truths. It feels morose and unrelieved, despite the efforts of the two actors.
