The Big Year (2011)

Awards
- 1 win

Trivia
As of 2019, the record for a Big Year in the US is 836 species of birds.

Goofs
Attu island is not closer to Tokyo than Anchorage. Anchorage is 1440 miles from the island, Tokyo is closer to 2000 miles away.

Quotes
On Screen Text: [first lines, the text that appears on screen] This is a true story.
On Screen Text: Only the facts have been changed.

Crazy credits
During the end credits, photos of every bird found by the winner are shown.

Alternate versions
UK BluRay sports an Extended Cut of the film, adding a good six minutes of minor background information on the three main characters and special birds. It also replaces Jack Black's narration of the story with a new narration by John Cleese who also receives a credit in the opening title sequence.

Connections
Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.14 (2011)

Soundtracks
Minor Swing
Music by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli
Performed by Django Reinhardt
Courtesy of Bluebird/RCA Victor
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

A underrated but heartfelt little movie

With the lead cast consisting of Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black, you would think The Big Year will be just another slapstick comedy with little to no story and cheap laughs. You would be wrong.

The Big Year is beautiful. Three men of different ages cross paths in their interest for birding; spotting as many birds as one can in one year.

But the film isn't really about "birding", it shows us life through three different views and the challenges life can bring and the choices that everyone has to make.

The Big Year is not a movie you will sit through laughing out loud, but you will be smiling for the better part of the 100 minutes.

One of the most underrated movies of 2011, The Big Year suffered from lack of promotion and a misleading poster and trailer.

Do yourself a favor, and watch this, you will not regret it!