The Big Year (2011)

1st bird watching is an old term and most birders dislike the term because birding requires hard work.The good birders are hikers up to 5 hrs a day and to photograph them requires years of skill building.Many hunters who switched to birder will tell you photographing them is more skillful then hunting...Birderng should be bird hunting you just don't kill it when you find it.This move was clearly written by birders or know birders because everything avid birders experience is in the movie.They miss a few points like bug bites(it was mentioned) and birders do enjoy the scenery and often relax and take it in...This is a funny movie but you really have yo know birders to fully enjoy it if you do the movie is hysterical...

I should start that this may contain a few minor spoilers...Fantastic! Enjoyed this movie much more than I thought I would, given it was about bird watching. I watched because I absolutely love Steve Martin, he could make any movie likable. In fact, between the entire cast- Jack Black, Owen Wilson and Steve Martin- they could make even a rubbish story line enjoyable to watch. Only it isn't a rubbish story line, far from it. Each character has their own personal background and story line to move forward with. I just love that it is based on a true story, or at least people who are real, with "a few facts changed," or so it states at the beginning of the movie.They really kept the bird theme going in this movie, between Harris's ring tone on his phone and some of the songs used in between. This movie made bird watching look quite inspiring and really gave a taste of what these bird watchers endure and how they feel doing it. I had no idea it was like that. Amazing! I love how they highlighted the different species of birds. I loved the owl scene with Harris and his dad in the snow.The end is absolute perfection. I nearly cried it was so meaningful. Not often that happens for me, if ever! I love that no one died (for a change!) and even Bostwick had a closure that he deserved, but still showed a likable character in the end.Brilliant performances from each of the actors, but I wouldn't expect anything less from this cast! Will definitely be watching this again.

This is a film about bird spotting. A three way race to see the most birds in one year.I switched this on with some trepidation, mainly because of the cast. I was expecting lots of zany antics and was sure at some point Jack Black would jump out of a pond with a plastic duck on his head. This did not happen.The film is gentle, restrained and articulate.The story is very plain, don't expect any action or any belly laughs. This restraint works well against the backdrop of bird watching. The writers go to lengths not to poke fun at the "Birders" which was quite refreshing.The main themes look around motivation of people with obsessive hobbies and their relationships with those outside their hobby.This isn't going to make it in to my DVD collection but I do recommend it for a watch. Don't expect too much and you won't be let down.

This my kind of film. Well done with an original story, based on script and character. I a big Steve Martin fan. I pretty much liked everything he has ever done. The whole story line with him and Owen Wilson and Jack Black works really well together as does the rest of the supporting players who have smaller roles. It's not a slapstick comedy - it's a clever comedy. It also takes a look at peoples lives - Three men, all from radically different backgrounds but all have their own home situations. I thought it was clever how they wove this story based around bird watching into what it is. It also has a lot of great scenic photography from around the country which is nice to see. It is now on my 'favorites' list.