Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

or , more exactly, the story in which I discovered Matthew Modine. a story about war and freedom and refuges and joy of life. precise, dark,hopeful in a special manner. because it is a story of friendship. and this detail gives force to a drama in which each scene seems be perfect. in which the symbols are important like each part of the past o Birdy. and this facts does the film a not ordinary story. but a parable. seductive, touching, impressive, like a spring wind in the morning. nothing not ordinary. only the performance of Nicholas Cage. and the last scene.

Over 2 hours of film ending with 2 of the lamest 2 jokes. "There wasn't anything I wanted to say" and the suggestion he had tried to fly.Nothing happens of any significance and the story of what broke birdy was covered in literally 30 seconds.In short Mathew's obsessed with birds and his life was rather dull before he turned into a mute. Cages character is of a cool man about town who's character wouldn't have spent a minute hanging around with Modines unless they were stuck on an island, even then I wouldn't bet on it.I guess you're supposed to think at the end of the movie they are going to go back to acting like teenagers again ?

Birdy is one of my favorite films from the 80's, one that slipped mostly unnoticed as far as award recognition goes. Though it has a lot of the 80's feel in it (especially in Peter Gabriel's wonderful soundtrack), it aged far less than many films of its time, and while it plays around with various clichés, it refuses to go all the way with any of them, and so manages to be fresh and surprising even now.A lot of that originality may be missed when referring to Birdy as a war film, or a story about PTSD. The film follows two friends and Vietnam vets before and after the wars, through intersecting flashbacks - a familiar tool in war films. But this time the flashbacks are as important as the scenes taking place in the present; the war experience, surprisingly, is only one example - maybe the ultimate one - of society bringing down people that live on its fringes, which is what Birdy is all about. It's a buddy film, a psychological drama, a social critique, a film about friendship and madness and non-conformism, and maybe a coming-of-age story (or a not-coming of age story), but war plays a much smaller part than might seem at first, and wisely, 'Nam flashbacks (which we've seen so many of in so many films) are few and saved till the very end.Special attention should go to the two lead actors - Nicholas Cage and Matthew Modine, both in the very early stages of their careers and both supplying one of the definitive performances of their careers (in Modine's case probably the peak of his career). They create real, full, flawed characters, aided by Alan Parker's sensitive directorial work and by poetic, beautiful cinematography. The film deals with some difficult and very dark questions, but it manages to keep the audience interested and even entertained without compromising its message. The 80's feel does pop-up every now and then, and some of the flashbacks to the 50's and early 60's rely too heavily on well-tried clichés of period films (most jarringly, the use of La Bamba and other hits of the time period in certain scenes, clashing with the beautiful score). But all those little flaws don't make Birdy anything less than a classic.

Anti-authoritarian athlete Nicholas Cage (as Alfonso "Al" Columbato) returns from Vietnam, with his faced bandaged-up, after a battlefield explosion. While recuperating, Mr. Cage is enlisted to help shell-shocked hometown friend Matthew Modine (as "Birdy"), who followed his friend into battle. Apparently, Mr. Modine thinks he's a bird - perching himself on his hospital bed, preferably nude, and staring silently out the window. Modine would like to fly away, but doctors keep his door and window locked. Rotund military Major John Harkins (as Dr. Weiss) hopes Mr. Cage can brings his pal back down to earth.As Cage tries to find sanity in the mute birdman's brain, flashbacks reveal his meeting the anti-social Modine, who prefers pigeons and canaries to people - but makes an exception when it comes to Cage. Opposites attract, and the two are fast friends - almost lovers, although Cage prefers bleacher quickies, and Modine could only make it with a canary (curiously, he names one "Al"). In the present, Harkins tells the unsuccessful Cage his time is running out, but Cage must help either cure Modine, or lose his own sanity.This is great film-making from director Alan Parker and frequent cinematographer Michael Seresin; hopefully, they haven't tired of working together. "Birdy" also catches Modine and Cage in perhaps their best "young" career roles. The supporting cast isn't given a lot to do, but they do it well. Harkins, one of the best "Dark Shadows" repertory company character actors, always stands out, as does attendant Bruno Kirby (as Renaldi). The William Wharton story was too far ahead of the curve to be nominated for many awards, but it earned a "Jury Prize" at the "Cannes Film Festival" and appeared at #8 the annual "National Board of Review" honor roll.The Peter Gabriel soundtrack and film structure are also commendable.The film's ending is simply perfect..I am a bird now.********** Birdy (12/21/84) Alan Parker ~ Matthew Modine, Nicholas Cage, John Harkins, Bruno Kirby