Rare Birds (2001)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Sturla Gunnarsson

Writers:

Edward Riche (novel)
Edward Riche (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 July 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

Fortune can make a man do some pretty fowl things.

Plot:

A down-and-out restaurateur and his neighbor hatch a plan to lure luminaries to their small Newfoundland town.

Plot Keywords:

Newfoundland | Plan | Auk | Cocaine | Restaurant

Awards:

6 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Dave
Andy Jones	...	Phonce
Molly Parker	...	Alice
Vicky Hynes	...	Deb
Greg Malone	...	Buster Bartlett
Michael Chiasson	...	Dr. Jack Tomlinson
Barry Newhook	...	Caller #1 / Hostage
Laura Tobin	...	Girl #1
Maggie Meyer	...	Girl #2
Frankie O'Neill	...	Brit Woman
Lawrence Barry	...	Hooligan
Leah Lewis	...	Bette
Todd Perrin	...	Cook
Deidre Gillard-Rowlings	...	Waitress
Matthew Clarke	...	Bartender

Also Known As:

Oiseaux rares (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and drug use.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:13 | USA:R | Canada:A

Filming Locations:

Cape Spear, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Company:

Big Pictures Entertainment

Trivia:

Director Sturla Gunnarsson did not cast all of the smaller parts, but filled them with interesting characters he encountered during shooting. Barry Newhook, who was a grip for the film, played the role of a hostage, as well as the voice of a caller to a radio show.

Goofs:

Continuity: Level of wine glass when Dave and Phonse are eating in the kitchen.

Soundtrack:

Parla... siam soli... Tutte le feste al tempio

Rare Find

I can't help but like this one. Everything about it reminds me of "The Dish" another "foreign import" that takes you away to another time (aka attitude) and another people - real people.

"Phonce" is brilliantly played by Andy Jones. He's a friend's friend - an all out go to guy... and asking nothing in return. Him and "Dave" (John Hurt) are good friends. I got a sense of a real bond on the screen. It carried the film through slower moments.

If you like "The Dish" you'll love this rare find of a movie. Afterall, you have to come across it on a cable station in order to find it. 9/10

- Zafoid