Birdy (DVD)

This movie is directed by Alan Parker at probably what I believe is the peak of his career. It is a haunting and beautiful story based on the William Wharton novel of the same name. Starring Nicholas Cage and Matthew Modine it is the story of two childhood friends who become involved in the Vietnam War as soldiers. Matthew Modine's character returns a terribly broken and disjointed young man. His only form of commyunication is with the birds that he sees - they represent freedom, purity and innocence, all of what has ben lost for this young man returning from a brutal war. Nicholas Cage tries to return his friend to normality - even if that means trying to help Modine to ...  Read the complete review

In 1984 Director Alan Parker made this very powerful and moving drama about two friends (played by Nic cage & Matthew Modine) affected by the Vietnam war - one physically, the other mentally. Both Cage and Modine give brilliant performances and work together very well. It’s a very emotional film, disturbing in a way but certainly a must see, and the ending is truly bizarre! Incidentally I’d never seen this film until I rented it on DVD one day, the best format to watch any movie of course! ...  Read the complete review

This is a lovely film, sensitively portrayed. I had heard nothing about what this film was about but watched it because I was on a mission to see every film Nicolas Cage had ever been in. I had assumed that like a lot of his earlier work this would be a bit odd. Granted it is not a run of the mill film but it is a lovely story with a great twist at the end. It is about two men (Cage and Modine) who have come back from the war - Cage with physical injuries and 'Birdy' (Mathew Modine) with psychological problems. It centres around Cage (can't remember what he's called in the film maybe Al) visting 'Birdy' in his hospital room and trying to get him ...  Read the complete review