Being a passionate Bud Cort fan, I recommend this film not only for those who love him, but also for those who enjoy quirky, psychedelic films. "Brewster McCloud" was Bud's sixth, but first starring role. He was discovered by Robert Altman when he was doing a stand-up comedy show alongside Judy Engles, and others, at Upstairs At The Downstairs. He could not have chosen a better actor to play the bizarre, complicated, anomaly-of-a-man, Brewster.
The symbolism in this is always overlooked. I love the concept that Brewster wants to fly, so that he can free himself of his fallen-angel protector (Sally Kellerman), the murders, and everyone else that gets in his way. It seems that Brewster was also determined to lose his virginity to thwart Kellerman, and more importantly, to liberate the love that he had inside of him. The most amazing scene, however, is the simultaneously happy/sad ending. Brewster's death is a celebration, as though when he died, he set everyone else free. Even the WAY in which Brewster died was symbolic. At first the cops tried to shoot him (society trying to impede him), but he ran out of breathe- as if freeing himself was not a possibility.
I believe the message of this movie was to show that humans are never really "free," in literal terms. We can only free ourselves mentally and emotionally of whatever haunts us, but it seems that Brewster wanted to attain the impossible, and liberate himself physically, overthrowing society and natural obstacles. Also enjoyable are the comparisons between birds and humans, shown throughout the film, which are hilarious, and symbolic in that birds are physically free.
The symbolism in this is always overlooked. I love the concept that Brewster wants to fly, so that he can free himself of his fallen-angel protector (Sally Kellerman), the murders, and everyone else that gets in his way. It seems that Brewster was also determined to lose his virginity to thwart Kellerman, and more importantly, to liberate the love that he had inside of him. The most amazing scene, however, is the simultaneously happy/sad ending. Brewster's death is a celebration, as though when he died, he set everyone else free. Even the WAY in which Brewster died was symbolic. At first the cops tried to shoot him (society trying to impede him), but he ran out of breathe- as if freeing himself was not a possibility.
I believe the message of this movie was to show that humans are never really "free," in literal terms. We can only free ourselves mentally and emotionally of whatever haunts us, but it seems that Brewster wanted to attain the impossible, and liberate himself physically, overthrowing society and natural obstacles. Also enjoyable are the comparisons between birds and humans, shown throughout the film, which are hilarious, and symbolic in that birds are physically free.
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