Birdy (1984)

Birdy: Directed by Alan Parker. With Matthew Modine, Nicolas Cage, John Harkins, Sandy Baron. After two friends return home from the Vietnam War one becomes mentally unstable and obsesses with becoming a bird.

“A man suffering from post-war trauma is helped by a friend who was also injured in Vietnam. We learn about their friendship through flashbacks. Modine brings a gentle sensibility to the title role of a bird lover so traumatized that he no longer speaks or acknowledges anyone. In what was at the time his biggest role, Cage is dynamic as Birdyu0026#39;s friend, displaying a volatile combination of empathy and anger. There are some very funny moments, such as Birdyu0026#39;s awkward prom date. The filmu0026#39;s pacing suffers somewhat due to the episodic nature of the narrative, but Parker infuses the film with visual elegance and skillfully balances the drama and the comedy. The ending is great.”