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Bird - The Charlie Parker Story [1988]
![Bird - The Charlie Parker Story [1988]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HE7E77TAL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £16.32
Our Price: £3.00 (subject to change)
Good portrait of Charlie 'Bird' Parker
Review date: 2007-09-07 Rating: 8 out of 10
"Bird"(1988) directed by Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven,1992; Mystic River,2003; Million Dollar Baby,2004) is first and foremost a great 1940s period drama. Secondly it just happens to be about one of jazz's great musicians, Charles "Bird" Parker. Bird was a great jazz innovator with the development of Bebop which really moved jazz on from just being mere entertainment toward art, drawing heavily on the music of Stravinsky and Varese. Sadly Bird died just as jazz beginning to feel the threat of Rock 'n' Roll although jazz would continue to evolve further into the 1960s.
Clint Eastwood's direction can't be faulted in this loving portrait to Bird who is performed by Forest Whitaker (Platoon,1986). The film uses stylistically a lot Film Noir elements and at times resembles films of the period. Even if you're not a jazz fan check it out because it's a good film and that really is Bird playing on the soundtrack.
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Reviews
This Film Changed My Life.....
Review date: 2007-08-10 Rating: 10 out of 10
I was a punk rocker when my girlfriend at the time made me sit through this, but by the end my life was turned around music wise and I became a Jazz head.
Even though I later discovered that Eastwood had played around with some facts in the film, this still is a outstanding story of a man who lived a true "Jazz" sytle life, the music, the drink, the women, and the drugs which sad to say made his music so perfect and blue.
Even if your not a jazz fan you should at least give the film a chance.
One of Eastwood best todate....
Very good film
Review date: 2006-11-18 Rating: 8 out of 10
I've just bought this in HMV so I don't know why Amazon can't supply it (update they can now)!
Anyway its a very good biopic of the great Jazz Alto Saxophonist Charlie Parker. This is a warts and all film, so all the bad things in Birds life (drugs etc) are covered as well as his marvellous playing. For the film his original sax playing was used, but new backing was put to it using modern musicians (such as Herbie Hancock). I imagine this was done to improve the overall sound quality.
In many ways its a very sad story, but Eastwood shows a steady hand and does a good job balancing the great music with his troubled life. Well worth getting.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Diane Venora
Forest Whitaker
Creators:
Diane Venora (Primary Contributor)
Forest Whitaker (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900118200
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2006-09-06
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 154 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1988
Language: English (Original Language)