Producer Director Clint Eastwood has given jazz fans a treat with this look at the life and music of Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. The juxtaposition of the often tortured existence and the beautiful melodies of this talented man creates the basis of a fascinating story.
Forest Whitaker stars in the role of Charlie Parker, one of the most influential jazz saxophonists in the world, and gives a wonderful complex performance. He moves from the heights of musical creativity to the depths of destructive excesses that were the norm for Parker’s life and makes a believable, flawed yet sympathetic man out of the legend.
The story is told in layers rather than a straight time line, and viewers see how the events connect in the past and present, overlapping and contributing to Parker’s life and career. Diane Verona gives an equally stunning performance as Charlie’s wife Chan Parker, daughter of a Broadway producer.
Chan knows musicians, and this gives her what it takes to be with Charlie. Dealing with the tragedies and the triumphs that make up their life takes its toll, but there are some sweet moments in their relationship that find their way into Charlie’s music.
Being on the leading edge of a musical revolution had to be difficult for Charlie Parker. Jazz was flourishing, and Parker was one of those pioneering musicians who looked for more and better ways to express emotion through tone and harmony. He worked out harmonies and riffs that were called bebop and were not widely accepted at first, because they sounded so different.
Finally in 1945 when he collaborated with Dizzy Gillespie on some of these compositions, audiences began to pay attention, and to want more. At the time when Parker should have been reaping the benefits of his fame, he was still caught up in the alcoholism and heroin addiction that would ultimately kill him at age thirty four.
Beautifully filmed, creating the sense of the world of jazz music in both ethereal performances, and down and dirty off stage moments, the viewer cannot help but feel the portrait of Bird and his life are very close to reality.
Bird is presented on a single disc in widescreen format. The playing time is 160 minutes. Special features include a music only audio track, biographical and career information on the cast and crew, the theatrical trailer and listing of awards this film has won. Also included is a cd “sampler” of Charlie Parker hits.
Bird (Two-Disc Special Edition) is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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