High Flying Bird (2019)

During a pro basketball lockout, a sports agent pitches a rookie basketball client on an intriguing and controversial business proposition.

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer:

Tarell Alvin McCraney

Stars:

André Holland, Melvin Gregg, Eddie Tavares

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
André Holland	...	Ray Burke
Melvin Gregg	...	Erick Scott
Eddie Tavares	...	Waiter
Farah Bala	...	Manager Sal
Skip Bayless	...	Himself
Shannon Sharpe	...	Himself
Joy Taylor	...	Herself
Zazie Beetz	...	Sam
Bill Duke	...	Spence
Zachary Quinto	...	David Starr
Caleb McLaughlin	...	Darius
Bobbi A Bordley	...	Freddy (as Bobbi Bordley)
Sonja Sohn	...	Myra
Kyle MacLachlan	...	David Seton
Jeryl Prescott	...	Emera Umber

Storyline

In the midst of a pro basketball lockout, sports agent Ray Burke (André Holland) finds himself caught in the face-off between the league and the players. His career is on the line, but Ray is playing for higher stakes. With only 72 hours to pull off a daring plan, he outmaneuvers all the power-players as he uncovers a loophole that could change the game forever. The outcome raises questions of who owns the game - and who ought to.

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Plot Keywords:

netflix | 

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Taglines:

Play the Game on top of the Game

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 February 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

High Flying Bird

Filming Locations:

One World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Extension 765, Harper Road Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Spence is talking with Ray Burke, he chides him about his Ivy League education. Ray says he didn't go Ivy, and Spence says, "Rutgers, Black Ivy." Rutgers is not a member of the Ivy League but rather the State University of New Jersey.

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Goofs

When Ray and Myra are talking in Myra her office, the Iphone and its tripod used for shooting are visible in the window reflection.

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Quotes

Sam: I know you're old school. I sent you a fax.

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Connections

Features Skip and Shannon: Undisputed (2016)

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Soundtracks

High Flyin' Bird
Written by Billy Edd Wheeler
Performed by Richie Havens
Courtesy of Polydor Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

NBA owners won't like this

Current events in the NBA are prophetically laid out in this concise film that extracts a lot out of it in a run time of 90 minutes. I won't go into spoiler detail but the construction of the plot is unique in many ways and I can't think of another film like it.

Some viewers will find it boring because there really isn't any basketball being played. I liked it because of that, because the plot doesn't need it. There is much relevancy on how the media landscape is changing and in turn changing the dynamics of the NBA (owner/GM vs players). I'm a big sports fan and I've noticed this from a long way out. That's the real point of this movie in my opinion.

It'll get mixed reviews and probably some 1 votes. That's okay, the message is right on and empowering, and the acting helps convey that. There are some religious plot lines too but it doesn't take away from anything and will add to the story for some viewers. Enjoy!