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Bird

7.4

10,547

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Original title

Bird

Year

1988

Running time

161 min.

Country

United States

Director

Clint Eastwood

Screenwriter

Joel Oliansky

Cast

Music

Charlie Parker, Lennie Niehaus

Cinematography

Jack N. Green

Producer

Warner Bros., Malpaso Productions

Genre

Drama | Biography. Music. Jazz. Alcoholism. Drugs. 1940s. 1950s

Synopsis

This film is a tribute to the life and genius of saxophonist great Charlie Parker. Bird is a collage of passages from Parker's remarkable life, from his childhood in Kansas City, through his tumultuous interracial relationship with Chan Richardson, to his tragic death at the age of 34.

Rankings Position

#57 Best Biopics/Biographical Movies
#92 Best Movies of the '80s

Awards: 1988: Academy Awards: Oscar Best Sound

1988: Golden Globes: Best Director. 3 Nominations

1988: Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor (Forest Whitaker) & Technical Prize

1988: BAFTA Awards: Nominated for Best Score and Best Sound

1988: César Awards: Nominated for Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger)

1988: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Supporting Actress (Diane Venora). 2 Nominations

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Critics' reviews

"[It] is less moving as a character study than it is as a tribute and as a labor of love. The portrait it offers, though hazy at times, is one Charlie Parker's admirers will recognize."

Janet Maslin: The New York Times
"It supplies us with images to go with the music, and it provides an idea of the man, more than 30 years after his death (...) A long, complex, ambitious movie, and it contains a lot of great music (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"You may catch yourself wondering if he's ever going to die, if you'll ever find out more about him (...) [It is] fascinating in its own peculiar way but incapable of flight."

Desson Thomson: The Washington Post
"Eastwood has succeeded so thoroughly in communicating his love of his subject, and there's such vitality in the performances, that we walk out elated, juiced on the actors and the music."

Hal Hinson: The Washington Post
"In a remarkable directorial effort, Eastwood shows a great flair for atmosphere and composition and presents a nuanced, complex, humane portrait of Parker's talents, obstacles, virtues and failings"

TV Guide
"[It] is the most serious, conscientious, and accomplished jazz biopic ever made, and almost certainly Eastwood's best picture as well."

Jonathan Rosenbaum: Chicago Reader
"As Eastwood said, Parker was a paradoxical character, both self-destructive and full of life, and the movie, simultaneously dark and exhilarating, takes that as its theme."

Jack Mathews: Los Angeles Times
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Ranking Lists Position

54 My Favorite Biopics/Biographical Movies (41)

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Bird

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