Birdy ***** (1984, Nicolas Cage, Matthew Modine, John Harkins, Sandy Baron, Karen Young, Bruno Kirby, Nancy Fish) – Classic Movie Review 1487

Director Alan Parker’s marvellous 1984 film Birdy stars Nicolas Cage as Al Columbato, who tries whatever he can to help his best friend Birdy (Matthew Modine), now a speechless schizophrenic suffering from post-war trauma and stuck away in a Vietnam veterans’ hospital.

The two close Philadelphia buddies have returned home from the Vietnam War and Al had serious physical injuries requiring major reconstructive facial surgery but Birdy is scarred for ever in a different way, mentally unstable and obsessed with becoming a bird.

The screenplay by Sandy Kroopf and Jack Behr smoothly updates William Wharton’s 1978 cult novel from the Second World War to the Vietnam War era to make it seem more relevant. Parker turns it into an astonishingly powerful, successful and uplifting movie, with heart-breaking, searing performances, especially from Modine as a man so obsessed with birds he wants to be one.

With its onslaught of strong, raw emotions, skilful character-driven storytelling and startling visual flair, Birdy is one of Parker’s finest achievements.

Also in the cast are John Harkins, Sandy Baron, Karen Young, Bruno Kirby, Nancy Fish, George Buck, Dolores Sage, Pat Ryan, James Santini, Maud Winchester, Marshall Bell, Elizabeth Whitcraft and Sandra Beall.

Birdy is one of Parker’s seven collaborations with producer Alan Marshall, including Fame (1980), Angel Heart (1987), Bugsy Malone (1976), Midnight Express (1978), Shoot the Moon (1982) and Pink Floyd The Wall (1982).

RIP Alan Parker, who died in London on 31 July 2020, aged 76, after a lengthy illness. His last film was the 2003 crime thriller The Life of David Gale.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1487

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