Birdman of Alcatraz
Director: John Frankenheimer
Year Released: 1962
Rating: 3.0
At its best when, of all places, it's not at Alcatraz: the relationship between 'Birdman' Stroud and his little friends is the best part of the movie, as the enraged young man becomes docile and academic as he ages, using his time in jail to educate and better himself (just because the future looks bleak doesn't mean you give up). Loaded with metaphors and meaning that, if this wasn't based on a true story, would sound like some screenwriter's trying to get creative ("Oh, yeah, caged birds/caged man, right, I get it"), but Frankenheimer's direction is understated and the film has a gentle aura around it. It almost falls apart after he leaves Leavenworth (and his development as a Bird Doctor) to go to Alcatraz - the confrontation between him and an old warden (Karl Malden) unadvisedly tries to comment on the state of the American Penal System where it has no room to.
