I enjoyed the book too and was later pleasantly surprised to see the film come out. It's very close to the book. Although Modine is the eponym, Cage shines as the star really, and brings heaps of emotion to the role.

Never heard of "dad", either as a film or book, or anything to do with Cage.


>I really enjoyed the book birdy. (Incidentally also Dad by William wharton was very good) but never saw the film. Both films from his early career I see. What went wrong.
>
>>I wouldn't say that, Nick. I enjoy his screen presence. Did you ever see the film "Birdy", with Mathew Modine?
>>
>>http://www.cagebypage.com/abouthismovies/reviews/birdy.html
>>
>>A lovely heart-warming film, with Cage, before he was really known about, putting in a brillliant performance as Modine's (Birdy's) long-suffering life-long friend, who puts up with all the s**t that Birdy throws his way. I've liked Cage ever since this.
>>
>>BTW, I've just remembered another film whose title I can't recall. A US film about a kid who's forever staging fake suicides. A very funny film, but I haven't seen it rep4eated on the box for years. ANyone know this one?
>>
>>Terry
>>
>>>That Nicolas Cage involvement is worrying. The man has no talent whatsoever. Apart from making turkeys.
>>>
>>>
>>>>not to keep repeating this, as I've mentioned this here several times already, but if you like those "World-weary detective who hasn't lost his sense of honor, a femme fatale, a convoluted plot -- yup!", there's a series coming in January on the Sci-Fi channel. It's called the "Dressden Series". Based on a series of books by Jim Buther.
>>>>
>>>>The main protaganist is Harry Dressden. A Chicago P.I. who also happens to be a wizard. It involves all that your looking for, plus a healthy dose of sarcasm. Not to mention faries, vampires, demons, etc.
>>>>
>>>>>>This is one of my all time favorite movies. That, Casablanca, African Queen, Key Largo, On the Waterfront and Lawrence of Arabia, I can sit down and watch any time.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Funny you should mention that. I just received the new souped-up DVD edition of "The Maltese Falcon" in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Tried to talk my daughters into watching it this weekend but they weren't excited. I have gotten them to watch some "old" movies (anything before 1990 <g>), with occasional success, but it's always a sales job, especially if the movie is in black and white. It's about like asking them if they would like a rotary phone for Christmas.
>>>>>
>>>>>We have similar tastes in the oldies. All those you mention are favorites, with "Key Largo" maybe a bit less so. "Sunset Boulevard" and "Double Indemnity" are two others that come to mind. I like just about anything Bogart, also the noir movies. Give me something B & W set in San Francisco or L.A. in the rain and I'm good to go. World-weary detective who hasn't lost his sense of honor, a femme fatale, a convoluted plot -- yup!