Tag: Birding

A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING – The Review

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Birds are fascinating creatures. This is true, but most people take birds for granted, so many of them flying about overhead. Birds are everywhere, and as creepy as that thought may be to some, they are always watching over us, constant spectators of the human experience below. Her on planet Earth, we go though life struggling primarily to answer two questions… who am i and what should I do with this life i have?

It’s no wonder there are some drawn in by a fascination for these feathered friends of ours. Those who watch, track and seek out birds of all species are generally referred to as “birders.” The term’s definition may be argued by some, including those in the film A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING. Directed and co-written by Rob Meyer, this film is a coming of age story about an awkward 15-year old boy named David Portnoy.

David, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, is grieving the loss of his mother, even as his father Donald plans his upcoming marriage to Juliana. David struggles with this rapid change in his family life. As a way to distract himself, and perhaps feel closer to his late mother, David takes up birding with two fellow enthusiasts at his school. David’s mother was a birder and accomplished researcher in the field and David shows a compelling level of knowledge and passion for the hobby in general.

A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is not about birds. Yes, the film contains many references to birds, jokes about birds, even bird metaphors, but the film is about David dealing with his teenage emotions regarding loss, love and growing up. Donald, played by James Le Gros, is understanding and patient at first, but as his wedding approaches he becomes less tolerant of David’s birding ways. Juliana, played by Daniela Lavender, was the nurse who cared for David’s dying mother. Despite her caring, warm spirit and genuine love for Donald and David, this fact clearly makes the situation that more unnerving and difficult to grapple with for David.

David’s journey of self-discovery begins, by chance, as he spots what he believes to be an extinct species of duck. Having snapped a blurry photo f the mystery bird, David seeks the opinion of renowned birder Lawrence Konrad, played by veteran actor Sir Ben Kingsley. David then enlists the help of his small school birding club to find the elusive bird and make what could be the greatest birding find of his generation. Along with his two nerdy birding companions, of whom have equivalent social personalities of Sheldon and Howard from The Big Bang Theory, they reluctantly allow Ellen, a student photographer, to accompany in exchange for the use of her telephoto lens.

Ellen, played by Katie Chang, clearly has an interest in David early on, but it takes some time and circumstances for David’s eyes to open and for the teenage hormones to kick in, despite Ellen’s thinly veiled, but equally awkward efforts to test the terrain. Together, the four adventurers head out into the Connecticut woods from New York in an older teenager’s “borrowed” convertible. Some mishaps occur on the way, but the journey allows for the viewer to get a strong sense of what David is going through, internally and with those around him. Chang’s mellow, almost neutral performance compliments Smit-McPhee’s uneasiness. Chang gives Ellen a nerdy, but confident worldly edge which plays well against, and ultimately alongside the textbook skinny, socially awkward David.

As usual, Ben Kingsley is a joy to watch. Invoking his trademark vocal traits and mannerisms, Kingsley lends a role model type figure to David’s story. This is crucial, especially since his father is preoccupied with his upcoming wedding. A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING feels a bit like STAND BY ME, only nerdier, and without a dead body. One thing the film succeeds at is showcasing the birding hobby as a storytelling device, much in the way THE BIG YEAR did, starring Jack Black and Steve Martin, except with a more intimate, realistic approach that allows the film to feel more dramatically accurate, whereas THE BIG YEAR just felt like a vehicle for blockbuster comedy.

The small, independent spirit of A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING carries a lot of weight for the film as the script is lacking in areas. Some of the more emotional moments in the story fall a little flat, perhaps partially due to a mostly young cast, but writing is always where these issues begin. Visually, the film does not feel amateurish and the film is accompanied by an equally enjoyable soundtrack, which also conveys a similar independent spirit. This independent spirit is another character trait of David’s, and perhaps what makes his story so intriguing.

A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING does not break any boundaries. It does not redefine any genres, nor is cause for any controversy. The film is simply a pleasant exploration of a boy’s journey from innocence to an opening of himself to what can be, what will be and what is most important in life.

A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING is currently available on Video On Demand and in Theaters beginning Friday, March 21st, 2014.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

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THE BIG YEAR – The Review

With a cast this impressively eclectic, THE BIG YEAR is not nearly as ridiculous as I was expecting. While the hilarity factor falls short of anticipated, the film still delivers plenty of humor, but the approach is far more charming than absurd, resulting in a pleasantly entertaining, somewhat uplifting dramedy.

Directed by David Frankel, THE BIG YEAR is a film which clearly falls somewhere between MARLEY & ME and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on his range of storytelling prowess and style. What the film does is to take an otherwise mundane subject that the average viewer would find dull and uninteresting, but fills it with a message of finding one’s true priorities, then wraps it up with a talented cast.

THE BIG YEAR follows three main characters, all three are passionate birders, as they venture out to set the world record for spotting the most bird species in North America in a single calendar year. Sound exciting? Exactly. However, the film actually does end up being rather exciting, sort of, in the sense that I actually cared about all three characters, even the one I was meant to hate, somewhat.

“Birding” is the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby. Therefore, a “birder” is one who partakes in birding.

THE BIG YEAR is told from the perspective of Brad Harris (Jack Black), a thirty-something divorcee living with his parents and working a dead end job he hates, but whose passion for birding drives his will to push on each day toward his dream of being the best. This presents something of a dilemma, as the current record holder and inspiration for Brad is Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson), who happens to be planning his own “big year” for a second consecutive time in an effort to secure his world record. Brad and Kenny are diametrically opposite personalities. Brad has a child-like passion for the art and wonder of birding, while Kenny appears to be far more interested in the fame of being the best.

Our third main character is Stu Preissler (Steve Martin), a successful CEO struggling to force himself into retirement so he may finally pursue his own big year, a dream he’s had since a child. Brad, Kenny and Stu all pursue the same goal, but tension emerges as they attempt to keep this a secret from one another in an effort to avoid heated competition. Brad and Stu are well aware of Kenny’s reputation for being a relentlessly brilliant birder who plays the game from any angle necessary, but rumors of being a cheat sparks an increased level of distrust toward him from both Brad and Stu.

I can only assume that the acts of birding in THE BIG YEAR are accurately portrayed, as I’ve never participated myself, but there is a very real sense of authenticity in the film. All of that aside, the movie isn’t really about birding, but rather about realizing what’s really important in the characters’ lives. This ultimately proves to be the families and loves ones of all three characters, but only two of them will end their journey having had that epiphany in a positive way. The other will ultimately learn a valuable lesson from his mistakes.

THE BIG YEAR doesn’t always hit the comedic nails squarely on the head, but the overall product is well worth the effort. With moments of slightly off-kilter timing or less-than-perfect delivery, the film stumbles slightly on occasion, but always manages to pick itself up and stabilize before ever falling flat on its face. Jack Black manages to pull back the reigns a bit, allowing his character to develop without Black’s trademark orneriness getting in the way, while Owen Wilson pretty much plays his character in his typical fashion, but it works. On the other hand, it was Steve Martin who impressed upon me the most connection with his character. Perhaps seeing a bit of his own life in Stu, Martin drew upon my empathy with astonishing ease. Stu is also something of a catalyst, a mentor even, for Brad’s own growth as a well-rounded individual.

What made the biggest impression on me while watching THE BIG YEAR was the supporting cast, filled to the gills with veteran cameos and recognizable fresh faces. Brian Dennehy plays Brad’s unsupportive, hard-nosed father while Dianne Wiest plays his loving, exceedingly supportive mother Brenda. JoBeth Williams plays Stu’s supportive wife Edith, Kevin Pollak and Joel McHale (TV’s COMMUNITY) play Stu’s corporate yes men, Rosamund Pike plays Kenny’s lonely and frustrated wife Jessica, Jim Parsons (TV’s BIG BANG THEORY) plays birder-groupie and blogger Crane, and Rashida Jones plays Brad’s love interest Ellie. And, as if this isn’t alluring enough, the film is brimming with cameos including Tim Blake Nelson, Anjelica Huston, Corbin Bernsen, Steven Weber and Al Roker.

When its all said and done, THE BIG YEAR is essentially a dramedy, finding its niche somewhere between quirkiness and melodrama, a film that could easily fall through the cracks if not properly marketed. So, this is my final word… THE BIG YEAR is not a great film, but its a reasonably good film that’s fun without being stupid, dramatic without being emotional, and friendly audiences of all ages, but intended for the grown-ups.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

THE BIG YEAR opens in St. Louis theaters on Friday, October 14th, 2011.