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

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
André Holland	...	Ray Burke
Melvin Gregg	...	Erick Scott
Eddie Tavares	...	Waiter
Farah Bala	...	Manager Sal
Skip Bayless	...	Self
Shannon Sharpe	...	Self
Joy Taylor	...	Self
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 | basketball | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the session at the Back to the Court one of the kids asks Erick Scott if the girls are sexy in New Orleans, and he replies that he went to LSU which is in Baton Rouge, then says the girls were college sexy. Another youngster says, "HBC" in reference to Southern University, an Historically Black College.

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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

References Life of the Party (2018)

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Soundtracks

Handsome Johnny
Written by Louis Gossett Jr. and Richie Havens (as Richard Pierce Havens)
Performed by Richie Havens
Courtesy of Polydor Records
Used by permission of EMI Unart Catalog Inc.

User Reviews

Small camera, big issues

Soderberg's latest experimentation with the iPhone focuses on a struggling idealistic player agent during an NBA "lockout". You may wonder how so small a camera manages to capture or at least replicate the drama of fast-paced sporting action, particularly the pinnacle grandstand moment of that ole rags to riches sports tale. Without spoiling anything, let me tell you it doesn't. Or more to the point, High Flying Bird is less concerned with the sport of basketball itself than it is with "The game on top of the game".

Instead of an arena, the game is played out in offices and instead of action, there is dialogue. Considering the constrained budget and production schedule, it is a testament to the cast and to the screenplay that the film holds together at all. And yet it does. The performances are naturalistic while the story moves along at pace, generally eschewing exposition.

In keeping its focus narrow, centring on a small cast of characters, Tyrell Alvin McCraney's screenplay cuts to the core of issues of race and power in the NBA without a whisper of melodrama. In fact, considering the wider story it is telling High Flying Bird remains upbeat and inherently promotes a message of positivity.

High Flying Bird will not be for everyone, it could be accused of being a little dry. However it is an intriguing experiment in film-making which finds a new way to tell a story which needs telling.

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