PRETTY BIRD

Pretty Bird is an unusual film, perhaps with limited appeal. It is the story of an entrepreneur, a conman who deceives himself as well as others about his ability to create companies and promote inventions. He is played by Billy Crudup with great flair. The contrast is with an inventor engineer, played by Paul Giamatti, a serious-minded man who finds that he has been exploited by the entrepreneur.

The focus of the film is on a rocket belt, enabling humans to fly. Introductory information indicates that the American government had been interested in the invention but had let it go, because it was not commercially viable as well as difficult to use. There is some detail in this film about the rocket belt and its development.

The entrepreneur also exploits his best friend, played by Frank Wood, an ingenuous young man who is probably in love with the entrepreneur as well. He allows himself to be persuaded to give all his money to the enterprise. Also in the cast is Kristen Wiig (writer and star of Bridesmaids) who is the assistant at the company.

The plot of the film would probably not engage a wide audience – but the film is very strong in its portrayal of the central characters and their interactions. It was written and directed by actor Paul Schneider (Bright Star).

1. The title, the rocket belt, humans flying?

2. The appeal, the specialised audience? Characters’ interactions? Science and technology?

3. The initial information about the rocket belts? The film inspired by a true story?

4. The locations, the town, the shop, the factory? A sense of realism? The musical score?

5. The conman and his self-confidence, Billy Crudup as Curtis, his appearance, manner, way of speaking, rehearsing his speeches, his delivery of his spiels? The revelation of his background, his father, the issue of college, ambitions? His being ignorant – and resenting being called stupid? His belief in ideas? In the American dream of success and enterprise? A believable character? Larger than life? Going through life impervious – and not realising the consequences for his friends?

6. The contrast with Kenny, his mattress business, success, the shop, Mandy as the secretary? An ingenuous man, in love with Curtis, credulous? Believing without any doubts? Allowing his money to be used, the warehouse space, his enthusiasm, Curtis getting him to write everything down, going to the shops, ordering all the equipment, paying, sharing the delight in Curtis’s success? His being rich, going to the banks for loans? Mandy, her going on the date with Curtis? His comment that he wanted to go to the opera with Curtis – and Curtis exploiting him? His not believing what Rick told him? The edge with Rick’s presence, Rick’s success, Rick trying to persuade him of the truth? Fighting with Rick? The sadness of the end?

7. Curtis, recruiting people, research, rejecting interviewees, the issue of money and loans, belief in himself, his headhunting Rick?

8. Paul Giamatti as Rick, sacked from his job, a good engineer? At home, his wife, down and out? Urging him to get the job? His acceptance, the discussions with Curtis, a catalogue and going shopping for all that he would need? Seeing him at work, wanting Curtis away from him? Calling Curtis dumb – and Curtis’s resentment? Puzzle about the company, about how to perfect the rocket belt, discovering the solution, the success, the testing, happiness?

9. The company, Curtis and his dressing up, going to meetings and appointments, calling Mandy an executive? Going on the date, yet nothing eventuating? Mandy and the signs and her embarrassment? The various other interested parties, the talk, conmen with conmen?

10. The rocket, the success, yet the shady situation, Rick and the failure of his credit card? Curtis and his painting the rocket belt – and stealing it?

11. Going to the appointment, the boat, the thugs and his abduction, keeping him in the box for a week, the repercussions, his refusal to tell where the rocket belt was? The confrontation with Rick – and Curtis standing firm?

12. The parable about conmen, deceit, entrepreneurs, carefree? The entrepreneurs as ‘pretty birds’ themselves?