Bird (1988)
Grade: 84
"Bird" is director Clint Eastwood's tribute to bebop jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (Forest Whitaker). Although lengthy, and often dwelling on the more lurid aspects of Parker's life, it is an excellent film. Parker comes alive, as an artist and a person, whose talents and torments are depicted as inseperable.
"Bird" zigzags backwards and forwards through Charlie Parker's adult life. His relationship with his wife Chan (Diane Venora) is fully explored. We also hear a great deal of Parker's sax playing. Parker's mentors are mocking, unimaginative Buster Franklin (Keith David) and respectful but disapproving jazz visionary Dizzy Gillespie (Samuel E. Wright). Parker becomes a mentor himself, to white Jewish trumpeter Red Rodney (Michael Zelniker), who decides to imitate Parker with his addictions as well. Perhaps over-explored is Parker's alcoholism and drug-abuse, and coupled with ulcers and suicide attempts, even the most naive viewer expects an early death.
Eastwood played a jazz DJ in 'Play Misty For Me', an early directorial effort. He would later be associated with country music in a series of films from "Every Which Way but Loose" to "Honkytonk Man". But Jazz must be his first love, and that comes through in the effort put into "Bird". Unreleased Parker performances were merged with backing by contemporary musicians, with the editing undistinguishable. Attempts are made to explain the significance of his style, and to convey the wide-ranging reactions to Parker's music, both from fans and from fellow musicians.
Whitaker gives a warm and winning performance. Smiling but sad-eyed, well-intentioned but unreliable, drug addicted but condemning drug abuse, his Parker is a swirl of contradictions. His wife Chan, like his various girlfriends, are white jazz fans from assumedly wealthy families. Chan is intelligent and sometimes frustrated, but she is always loyal to her husband despite all of his troubles.
My favorite scene in the film has Parker and his band playing at a Jewish wedding, a gig arranged by Rodney. The warmth bridging the immense cultural gaps was great to see.
While "Bird" only received an Academy Award for Best Sound, Whitaker won Best Actor at the Cannes festival, while Eastwood, Whitaker and Venora received Golden Globe nominations.
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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