Drama
United States of America
High Flying Bird is a sports drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh and released in 2019. The film stars Andre Holland, Zazie Beetz, Melvin Gregg, Sonja Sohn, Zachary Quinto, and Kyle MacLachlan.
The movie is set during an NBA lockout, where the game's biggest stars are unable to play and the league’s business is at a standstill, leaving many unemployed and struggling to sustain themselves. Ray Burke (played by Andre Holland), a sports agent, sees an opportunity to turn the situation into a chance to revolutionize the game.
Through his work with rookie basketball player Erick Scott (played by Melvin Gregg), Ray proposes an unconventional strategy that involves breaking free from the traditional ways of conducting business within the industry.
Ray takes advantage of technology and creates a way for the players to take control of the game by bypassing the league’s system of contracts, owners, and endorsements. The movie explores themes of power dynamics, race, and class as Ray and Erick navigate the complicated world of professional basketball and business.
The film's style is unusual and distinct, shot entirely on an iPhone with a sleek, fast-paced cinematography, featuring some long single takes, framing the tension and dialogue. It is a thought-provoking and unique story of an individual's attempts to revolutionize a corrupt industry.
