High Flying Bird
High Flying Bird

High Flying Bird

2019Movie90 minEnglish

When an NBA lockout sidelines his big rookie client, an agent hatches a bold plan to save their careers -- and disrupt the league's power structure.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes77%
Metacritic65/100
Google Users78%
Director: Steven SoderberghGenres: Sports, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

During an NBA lockout, an ambitious sports agent, Ray Burke, is caught in a power struggle. Facing pressure from his clients and the league's owners, he proposes a radical deal that could change the future of basketball and the relationship between players and the owners.

Critical Reception

High Flying Bird received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its unconventional narrative, Soderbergh's distinctive directorial style, and the performances, particularly André Holland's. Some found its dialogue-heavy approach and experimental structure challenging, but many appreciated its timely commentary on the economics of professional sports.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its smart, timely exploration of sports economics and power dynamics.
  • Applauded for Steven Soderbergh's signature directorial flair and André Holland's compelling performance.
  • Noted for its unconventional, dialogue-driven narrative that might not appeal to all viewers.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's intellectual approach to the business side of basketball and the themes of agency and control. Some viewers found the pacing slow and the dialogue dense, preferring more traditional sports drama elements.

Fun Fact

The film was shot entirely on an iPhone 8, continuing Steven Soderbergh's experimentation with mobile filmmaking.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
tmdb44006625

tmdb44006625

The opening scene of High Flying Bird sets up a very unconventional sports movie. Both the NBA player and the agent are broke due to a lockout and they can't even pay a coffee bill. You'd think this world would be full of agents and players...