I have to say that sitting through Clint Eastwood’s *Bird* was really tough going for me. The story itself is certainly compelling, but the way it’s presented felt incredibly dull and ordinary. I didn’t know anything about Charlie Parker before seeing the film, and that lack of familiarity is what kept my attention somewhat engaged. I'm not a huge fan of jazz music, but I do enjoy hearing it when the opportunity arises. Still, I just couldn’t connect with the movie itself. It seemed to be an endless loop of about 160 minutes (!) showing the same things over and over: performance, then drunk or depressed, followed by another performance, and more drunkenness or depression. I didn't feel like I was gaining any real insight into Parker’s life or who he was. I actually felt relieved when the credits finally appeared. Forest Whitaker is an actor that I generally appreciate, and he’s likely the only thing preventing me from giving this film a lower rating. As for everyone else, I honestly can't remember them – although I think that's due to the issues I mentioned earlier, rather than any fault of the actors themselves who almost certainly did their best. It really dragged on; it was far too long. Like I said, he’s a fascinating subject for a film, and something closer to 100 minutes would have been ideal, in my view. It's disappointing, overall.

Source on TMDB