[Tweeters] Fwd: [cobirds] The Big Year. The Movie. The Review

[Dennis Paulson]

A friend sent me this review from Cobirds. Enough said.

Begin forwarded message:


>> From: cobirds at googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Joe Roller

>> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 6:53 AM

>> To: Colorado Birds

>> Subject: [cobirds] The Big Year. The Movie. The Review

>> 

>> 

>> With sneak preview tickets provided by RMBO, members of the field glass fraternity and the telescope sorority

>> 

>> settled back in reclining seats at The Denver Film Center last night, munched popcorn and tried not to fret about

>> 

>> how we birders would be skewered in the latest gem to grace the silver screen, The Big Year. Based on the book

>> 

>> of the same name by Denver's very own Mark Obmascik, this film improbably starred such big name actors as

>> 

>> Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson. To cut to the quick, I mean, in a nutshell, The Big Year was a Big Movie.

>> 

>> I loved it. I laughed, I winced, I almost cried and was charmed by the goofy portrayal of three wild and crazy birders

>> 

>> as they twitched, chased and scored. Go see it! Everyone who is aware of your avian obsession will be asking you

>> 

>> about "that bird flick." I hear that the official opening is this Friday. Don't laugh, but this movie is labelled PG "for language

>> 

>> and some sensuality." Sensuality? Maybe I blinked? Maybe the censors are referring to that sensual scene with the Bald

>> 

>> Eagles?

>> 

>>  

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> See The Big Year with your spouse, but brace yourself for a few knowing nudges in the ribs, as your birding behavior

>> 

>> is displayed in Technicolor and recognized. "That's you, dear. They got that right!" On the other hand, one review I read summarizes this

>> 

>> movie as noble and lofty. "Their quests are allegory to the challenges faced in their lives." "See, honey, when I go birding

>> 

>> it's an allegory." (Try that one, and let me know if it files).

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> The Big Year borrows from these familiar genres:

>> 

>> The Great Race.

>> 

>> The Nature Channel.

>> 

>> The Buddy Movie.

>> 

>> Stalag 17 - you'll see it here. You can almost smell it.

>> 

>> Wall Street, the movie. From Board Room to Binoculars.

>> 

>> Don Quixote.

>> 

>> Dirty Rotten Scoundrels -How low can you go to shake off your rivals?

>> 

>> You'll  notice homages to Alfred Hitchcock, Boy Meets Girl, and Airplane.

>> 

>> And yes, Steve Martin reprises the dance of "A Wild and Crazy Guy."

>> 

>> Jack Black reprises sweating, and Owen Wilson wears duds like no birder I know.

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> If you've ever boarded a pelagic trip out of Monterrey Bay, you'll chortle at the portrayal

>> 

>> of that ruler of the rolling ocean, Debi Shearwater! Was that Angelica Houston with pigtails

>> 

>> and rubber boots?

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> Can you identify the brands of field glasses held by the actors?

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> You will find only a few errors:

>> 

>> Did I see a birder in the field with a camera, but NO binoculars?

>> 

>> Did I see THAT hawk in THAT weather?

>> 

>> Does Attu come with bird name labels on every hillside and meadow?

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> Could you see THAT owl in THAT national forest? (I looked it up - you could).

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> But the biggest error is the repeated conceit that "Whoever sets the Big Year record is

>> 

>> The World's Best Birder!" 

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> Movie reviews usually conclude with an overall rating, such as "X number of stars" or

>> 

>> "Y number of bags of popcorn."  My personal rating of The Big Year is Four out of Five

>> 

>> buckets of stinky fish-head chum."

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> I don't want to spoil the ending, but can say this much - every year ends on New Year's Eve.

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> The ticket? Maybe eight bucks.

>> 

>> The Milk Duds? Maybe two bucks.

>> 

>> Memories of The Big  Year? Priceless!

>> 

>>  

>> 

>> Joe Roller, Denver

>> 

>> -- 

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>> 

>>  

> 


-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net



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