Rare Birds (2001)

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:

Auk | Cocaine | Restaurant | Plan | Bird

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
John Moyes	...	Male Diner
Sheila McCarthy	...	Claire
Bryan Hennessey	...	Cortini
Pete Soucy	...	Bystander
George Jonas	...	Dr. Hans Spiedal
Mark Critch	...	Dougie
Mack Furlong	...	Car Man

Directed by
Sturla Gunnarsson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edward Riche		novel
Edward Riche		screenplay

Produced by
Sam Feldman	....	co-executive producer
Paul Pope	....	co-producer
Jeff Sackman	....	co-executive producer
Tamara Shannon	....	associate producer
Janet York	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Jonathan Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser

Film Editing by
Jeff Warren

Casting by
Jon Comerford
Pat McCorkle

Production Design by
Pam Hall

Set Decoration by
Kathee Reardigan

Costume Design by
Jeanie Kimber

Makeup Department
Debbie Vatcher	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alex Pappas	....	first assistant director
Kelly Stone	....	second assistant director
Terry Stone	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Daniel R. Bradette	....	property master
Shelley Cornick	....	key scenic artist
Paul Wade	....	carpenter

Sound Department
Erik Culp	....	foley recordist
Don Ellis	....	boom operator
Bill Mellow	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donna Powell	....	foley artist
Jim Rillie	....	sound
David Yonson	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Gary Minielly	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Randy Boliver	....	stunt coordinator
Eric Bryson	....	stunt coordinator
Mark A. Owen	....	stunt double: Andy Jones

Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Andrews	....	lighting technician
Jake Clarke	....	best boy electric
Jake Clarke	....	underwater electrician
Gary Deneault	....	gaffer
Sean Doran	....	best boy grip
Mark O'Neill	....	camera trainee
Flora Planchat	....	daily electrician
Karl Simmons	....	key grip

Casting Department
John Mabry	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Gary Shaw	....	video colorist
D. Gillian Truster	....	first assistant editor
Gord Ventura	....	dailies colorist

Other crew
Kirsten Andrews	....	publicist

Production Companies

• Big Pictures Entertainment
• Pope Productions
• Rare Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• Filmax Home Video (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (Germany)
• Lions Gate Films
• Nexo
• Shadow Distribution
• Studio Home Entertainment

Other Companies

• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantor
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision

Also Known As:

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:

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

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:

Christina's Dream/Tootsie-Wootsie

Rare birds. Well done movie.

"Rare Birds" tells of a hapless Newfoundland restaurant owner/cook (Hurt) whose remote seaside restaurant is suffering from insufficient patronage due to a lack of advertising. A quirky friend (Jones) hatches a plot suggesting Hurt report the sighting of a nearly extinct duck to encourage bird watchers to flock to his eatery thereby stimulating his business while he's being stimulated by thoughts of his comely waitress (Parker)...etc. A fun and earnest flick which trudges through it's wry tale relying on understated tongue-in-cheek humor and quirkiness for entertainment, the film includes other salients such as a home made submarine, 22 pounds of cocaine, some much coveted sheet lights, and an RCMP SWAT team for additional substance. Overall, "RB" is a warm hearted little flick for those who don't mind off-kilteredness and the absence of the usual Hollyweird appurtenances. (B-)