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Matthew Modine, Nicolas Cage, John Harkins, Sandy Baron, Karen Young ... see more see more... , Nancy Fish , Delores Sage , Crystal Field , Bruno Kirby , Priscilla Alden , Sandra Beall , Marshall Bell , Joe Lerer , Richard Mason , James Santini , Bud Seese , Irving Selbst , Michael Shaner , Andy Mark Simpson , Charles Tamburro , Chris Taylor , Elizabeth Whitcraft , Maud Winchester , William Clark , George 'Buck' Flower , John Brumfield , Mic Rodgers , Steve Lippe , Guy Jones , Michael Runyard , Juliet Taylor , Robert Ryan , Harry Hauss , Tim Davis

Director Alan Parker tackles this adapation of William Wharton's novel, which retains much of the source material's texture and complexity. Matthew Modine is Birdy, who comes back from Vietnam mentall... read more read more...y shattered and deludes himself into thinking that he is a bird, an animal that has obsessed him since childhood. Birdy is confined to a military hospital, where he spends his time sitting naked in his room, not acknowleding anyone, moving and acting like a parakeet. His best friend Al (Nicolas Cage), also a wounded Vietnam vet, visits Birdy every day, determined to bring him back to reality. Birdy is occasionally disjointed but enriched by strong performances from Modine and Cage and a number of hard-to-forget moments. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

7,682 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

25 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Alan Parker

Release Date: December 21, 1984

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DVD Release Date: February 15, 2000

Stats: 357 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (357)

  • kenstachnik
    February 12, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Real great performances by Matthew Modine and Nic Cage (I know right?), the movie however just isn't my cup of tea.
  • ajv2688
    January 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    This movie has a realistic feel, as it tells the story of two friends, one of which is insane and thinks he's a bird. I saw this on TV the other day, I thought the characters were interesting, but the story was slow and boring. Overall it's an okay movie, though.
  • pier007
    May 27, 2008
    pier007
    Incredibly touching story about two friends whose lives were destroyed by war. Alan Parker's direction is flawless, as well as the performances and the soundtrack. An emotional roller coaster ride that feels more genuine every time.
  • Camus123
    July 16, 2007
    Camus123
    Ever feel totally alone...except in your own head? So did Birdy (played by Matthew Modine). Stuck in a world where he feels he does not belong growing up tethered to the ground by gravity he seeks escape through flight. The flight is as spiritual as it is physical as Birdy makes ... read moreevery effort to run from this world he did not create. He finds one true friend (Played by Nicholas Cage), someone who accepts him unconditionally. This friend (though he has a name there is no use for them in this film) is Birdy's only grounding to a world which holds the horrors of bullies grown up to play with adult toys of war. Birdy's Psyche, wrenched in anger and anguish, trying to come to terms with the things that he cannot understand by seeing them through the eyes of a spirit he can understand...that of a bird...so caged. All of this is set masterfully against Peter Gabriel's soundtrack which is simply his album, "Security," revamped for the film without the lyrics. Interestingly enough though, for those Gabriel fans out there, if you listen to Security and truly read the lyrics it will help you to understand the film. The haunting melody of Wallflower, a song depicting a person who has been institutionalized and is asked to maintain his spirit and not break nor bend to the will of the "keepers" plays throughout this film (sans lyrics of course). "6 by 6 from wall to wall, shutters on the windows no light at all, there's damp on the floor and there is damp in the bed, they're trying to get you crazy get you out of your head...Hold on..." I found this film on cable about 19 years ago and found myself crying. It is truly that moving. Also, like so many good films, the book is excellent as well.
  • crossbladezero
    June 24, 2011
    crossbladezero
    Though it is an interesting study on the human mind and a slick combination of a variety of genres, the film isn't as special as it promises to be, as it suffers from some underdevelopment, some cheesiness, some overdrawn segments, a cop-out ending and underwhelmingness. Still, i... read moret is is supported by very good music, a strong story, compelling characters and a solid final act, in spite of the ending. Still, the real power behind this film is the drama led by Matt Modine and Nick Cage. The film explores a varity of subgenres of drama. The film touches on the friends' coming-of-age, experience in war and the terrible aftermath of this war. The film explores genuine human struggles in many shapes and froms and the transitions feel smooth and don't get in the way of the emotional impact, which still would have been stronger if the rest of the film wasn't executed so underwhelmingly.

    Oh man, I hate this review. This bad review should tell how underwhelming this is. I was really looking foward to this and yet, here we are. Still, "Birdy", though nothing too special, remains a moving portrait on friendship and the desire for freedom in many situations, led by strong performances from Cage and Modine.
  • Lemure
    April 18, 2012
    Lemure
    Okay, you have Modine who loves birds and is so shaken up in 'Nam that he starts acting like a bird. Then you have Cage who's his bestest mate and tries to help him out while dealing with his own recollections of the war. It's a good film. Bit weird, but good.
  • jjb3332003
    November 29, 2010
    jjb3332003
    This movie is probably better than my impression of it. Intensely symbolic and allegorical, darkly comic at times, with a strong anti-war message. The ending was awesome.
  • flbeachboy
    September 13, 2010
    flbeachboy
    Loved this movie from begining to end, this shows what true friendship is all about, Awesome performances by Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage, no wonder these two men became such great actors.
  • Tabraea
    August 23, 2008
    Tabraea
    VERY unusual Nicholas Cage movie. It was entertaining. I'll give it that. Can't say I was happy about how it ended. It's a little strange. None the less it's a good movie.
  • MangoChutChut
    December 31, 2007
    MangoChutChut
    Was that Nicolas Cage? Lordy. Well, I saw this movie because of Matthew Modine. I fell in love with him after seeing "Gross Anatomy" and "Vision Quest." This is a pretty slow movie so I can't recommend it but it's not horrible either. I guess it's okay. Meh.

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
September 16, 2008
Variety Staff, 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. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A very strange and beautiful movie. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Most of Birdy is enchanting. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
April 22, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though largely confined to a military hospital, this post-Vietnam drama is powerfully acted by Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage. Full Review

September 16, 2008
Film4

Raising issues about the nature of madness and what constitutes true freedom, this is a curiously arty film from Parker, a frequently unsubtle director, usually so dismissive of any kind of pretension... Full Review

Rob Thomas
September 6, 2006
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A haunting and unpredictable film that more people need to discover.

Rob Gonsalves
August 26, 2006
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Movies don't get more emo. But don't hold that against it. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

A trifle self-indulgent -- well, it is directed by Alan Parker -- but never boring Full Review

Gregory Weinkauf
July 15, 2005
Gregory Weinkauf, ÜberCiné

There's something truly beautiful about this friendship story, the adaptation is wonderful, the music brilliant, and the ending sublime.

Ken Hanke
August 14, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Striking Alan Parker film too often overlooked.

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    • Birdy: [as Al is praising the female bosom] They're just like on a cow, but in a more stupid place.
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Birdy Trivia

  • Which movie, starring Matthew Modine and Nicholas Cage, is about a boy that is fascinated by birds?  Answer »
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  • Full Metal Jacket Vision Quest Birdy On Any Given Sunday Jack & The Beanstalk---The Real Story Bye Bye Birdy Who am I?  Answer »
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