Watch Pretty Bird

Pretty Bird is a darkly comedic independent movie from 2008. The film features Billy Crudup, Paul Giamatti, and David Hornsby in the leading roles. The story is about three friends who come up with a seemingly genius idea for building and marketing a rocket-powered belt. But as their product gains popularity and fame, their personal relationships begin to unravel, leading to dangerous and unexpected consequences. The movie starts with a young man named Curtis Prentiss (Hornsby) who dreams of building a rocket-powered jetpack. He works at a machine shop during the day and tinkers with his designs in his spare time. After meeting Rick Honeycutt (Crudup) at a business conference, Curtis pitches his rocket belt idea to him. Rick, an eccentric and self-absorbed inventor, becomes fascinated with Curtis's idea and the two of them team up to develop the product. The third part of the trio is Kenny Owenby (Giamatti), a former best friend of Rick's who owns a failing mattress store. Kenny is going through a rough patch in his life and is in desperate need of a money-making idea. Rick and Curtis convince Kenny to invest in their rocket belt project, promising him a share of the profits. As the group works together to perfect the rocket belt, tensions rise among them. Rick's endless tinkering and perfectionism delay production, while Curtis becomes increasingly frustrated with Rick's egotistical behavior. Kenny, who is putting all his savings into the project, becomes paranoid that the other two are conspiring against him to steal his share of the profits. Despite the internal conflicts, the rocket belt is a hit at a trade show, and the three friends secure a large order from an interested buyer. But as they struggle to fill the order, the group begins to unravel. Curtis and Rick's personal lives become complicated, and Kenny's paranoia reaches dangerous heights. The three find themselves at a crossroads, where they must decide whether to prioritize their friendships or their business. Pretty Bird is a masterful blend of comedy and drama that explores the complexities of human relationships and the dangers of greed and ambition. The performances by the three lead actors are nuanced and captivating, with Crudup in particular giving a standout performance as the enigmatic and obsessive Rick. The film also features excellent cinematography and editing, with clever use of split-screen shots and overlapping dialogue to illustrate the characters' conflicting perspectives. Overall, Pretty Bird is an engaging and thought-provoking film that will leave viewers thinking long after the credits roll. It's a must-see for fans of unconventional indie cinema and for anyone who's ever had a big idea that they've wanted to make a reality.