Birdy (1984)

Before Clint Eastwood received a Golden Globe for directing Bird (1988) and Alejandro Iñárritu took home Oscars for directing, writing and producing Birdman (2014), director Alan Parker won us over with Birdy (1984). Adapted from William Wharton’s same-named novel, the R-rated pic tells the tale of two teenagers who befriend each other in the 1960s. Birdy (Matthew Modine) and Al Columbato (Nicholas Cage) bond over their interest in catching pigeons and restoring an old car. After the two graduate, they head off to fight in Vietnam. But once they complete their tour of duty, the guys can’t escape the wounds of war. Al sustains physical injuries to his face that require surgery, while Birdy is emotionally scarred. He becomes a mute mental patient after turning up MIA for a month. As Birdy sits comatose in the asylum, thinking he’s a bird, Al comes to his buddy’s bedside to help save his sanity, while trying to hold on to his own. Needless to say, things look bleak for the vets on screen, but you may experience a happy ending when you get a gander at Mr. Cage’s awesome abs. If that’s not hot enough, Mr. Modine steams up the screen with his lean physique. While his character spends time in the mental ward, he often removes his pajamas and perches like a bird on the footboard of his bed. We don’t get to peek at Matthew’s beak, but there are views of his chest and tail feather. Early Birdy gets Mr. Man’s worm!