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IMDbPro

A Bird of the Air

  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
70,407
19,030
Rachel Nichols and Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
A man in search of his past and a woman who lives in the moment are brought together when they pursue the origins of a stray parrot.
Play trailer2:10
1 Video
13 Photos
DramaRomance
A man in search of his past, and a woman who lives in the moment, are brought together when they pursue the origins of a stray parrot in this comedic and romantic drama.A man in search of his past, and a woman who lives in the moment, are brought together when they pursue the origins of a stray parrot in this comedic and romantic drama.A man in search of his past, and a woman who lives in the moment, are brought together when they pursue the origins of a stray parrot in this comedic and romantic drama.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
70,407
19,030
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Margaret Whitton
    • Writers
      • Roger Towne(screenplay)
      • Joe Coomer(novel "The Loop")
    • Stars
      • Rachel Nichols
      • Jackson Hurst
      • Anjanette Comer
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Margaret Whitton
    • Writers
      • Roger Towne(screenplay)
      • Joe Coomer(novel "The Loop")
    • Stars
      • Rachel Nichols
      • Jackson Hurst
      • Anjanette Comer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
    • 42Metascore

    Videos1

    Theatrical
    Trailer 2:10
    Theatrical

    Photos13

    Margaret Whitton directing A Bird of the Air.
    Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Buck Henry in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Rachel Nichols and Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Rachel Nichols and Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Joe Manuel Gallegos Jr. in A Bird of the Air (2011)
    Rachel Nichols and Jackson Hurst in A Bird of the Air (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rachel Nichols
    Rachel Nichols
    • Fiona
    Jackson Hurst
    Jackson Hurst
    • Lyman
    Anjanette Comer
    Anjanette Comer
    • Mrs. Weber
    Linda Emond
    Linda Emond
    • Margie
    Buck Henry
    Buck Henry
    • Duncan Weber
    Judith Ivey
    Judith Ivey
    • Eleanor Reeves
    Erik Jensen
    Erik Jensen
    • Bearded Man
    Kaiulani Lee
    Kaiulani Lee
    • Mrs. Blair
    Matte Osian
    Matte Osian
    • Trucker
    Rocco Sisto
    Rocco Sisto
    • Security Guard
    Phyllis Somerville
    Phyllis Somerville
    • Ivy Campbell
    Louis Zorich
    Louis Zorich
    • Stowalski
    Jessamyn Blakeslee
    • Woman Crash Victim
    Gary Farmer
    Gary Farmer
    • Charles Ballard
    Carrie Fleming
    • Reference Librarian
    Bernardo Saracino
    Bernardo Saracino
    • Neil
    • (as Bernardo P. Saracino)
    Stephanie Jones
    Stephanie Jones
    • Dr. Doughtery
    Todd Lawson LaTourrette
    • Tom
    • (as Todd La Tourrette)
    • Director
      • Margaret Whitton
    • Writers
      • Roger Towne(screenplay)
      • Joe Coomer(novel "The Loop")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The movie is based in New Mexico.
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Margie: Upside down people, the graveyard shift. Whatever you call us. We're the ones working at night while you sleep. We look out for each other. Or, I looked out for Lyman, and he looked out for everyone else. But off the road he thought everyone else had read the big instruction manual. Lyman wasn't gonna talk until he had it all figured out. Riding that highway loop night after night was the only job he'd ever had, unless you count all the classes he took at the Community College. Oh he learned lots of things, just not the basics, and they aren't in the books.

    • Soundtracks
      Los Hijos De Dona Meche
      Written by R. Gonzalez & L. Garzon

      Performed by Los Cubaztecas

      Courtesy of LoveCat Music

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    Excellent adaptation; worth seeking out
    Character actress turned filmmaker Margaret Whitton demonstrates real directorial savvy with A BIRD OF THE AIR, an appealing dramedy adapted by Roger Towne ("The Natural") from Joe Coomer's 1992 novel THE LOOP. Indie production may be low-profile amongst the high-concept Hollywood product out there, but is a highly recommended movie.

    Originally optioned by Oprah and later acquired by Matthew McConaughey as a vehicle for himself and post-SAHARA (but pre-Oscar) Penelope Cruz, Whitton's eventual version benefits from casting unknown leads.

    Jackson Hurst toplines as Lyman, a handsome introvert with zero social skills, whose job is cleaning up the interstate in rural New Mexico by night, aiding stranded or injured motorists. A beautiful, flighty young librarian Fiona (winningly personified by Rachel Nichols) sets her romantic sights on Lyman, and a decidedly unconventional bond develops between the mismatched pair.

    A couple of non-human characters balance and amplify the drama, as a parrot mysteriously flies into Lyman's trailer home one day, an aged, lost soul like our orphan hero. Fiona's basset hound is the other leading player, at first downright hostile to Lyman, but later helping to break down his protective shell.

    Much of the narrative revolves around Lyman's quest to track down the previous owners of the parrot, while Fiona researches Lyman's own shady background. Director Whitton has cleverly distorted the voices of those owners to provide a voice for the humorously loquacious bird, whose pronouncements hint at the film's underlying themes.

    Brief but telling character turns are provided by the succession of owners, all sympathetically acted by a diverse group of talents including Buck Henry, Judith Ivey and Phyllis Sommerville. Film buffs will also note a welcome (albeit fleeting) return to the screen by Anjanette Comer as Buck's wife. Also forceful in support is Linda Emond as a diner waitress who mothers Lyman and narrates the picture.

    Flavorful but not showy lensing by Oscar-winner Philippe Rousselot is a plus, and the film remains offbeat without succumbing to the cutesy clichés that tempt so many indie efforts of late. Hurst is disarming as the central hunk, acting in a style reminiscent of early Harrison Ford (before he started taking himself a bit too seriously) and Nichols, in quite a turnabout after co-starring opposite CONAN THE BARBARIAN, is a radiant heroine.
    helpful•23
    9
    • lor_
    • Sep 14, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 23, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Loop
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
    • Production company
      • Tashtego Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $10,152
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,819
      • Sep 25, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,152
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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