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Whirlybird

Play trailer 2:36 Poster for Whirlybird 2021 1h 43m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, husband-and-wife team Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (then known as Bob) covered some of the city's most dramatic events and changed breaking news forever. An entirely unique view of Los Angeles presented through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, WHIRLYBIRD reframes many of the city's pivotal moments, including the L.A. riots and the O.J. Simpson pursuit.
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Whirlybird

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Critics Consensus

Whirlybird might have benefited from a more patient approach, but it remains a fascinating -- and often thrilling -- look at what goes into making the news.

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Critics Reviews

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Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) 08/07/2021
Interesting and worth knowing. Go to Full Review Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times 08/06/2021
Quibbles aside, "Whirlybird" proves a memorably evocative time capsule of 1980s and '90s Los Angeles and the people who made - and captured - the news, as well as a stirring portrait of regret. Go to Full Review Nell Minow RogerEbert.com 08/06/2021
2.5/4
We cannot help wishing, as we do so often in watching what passes for news these days, that this story was told with more insight, context, and, well, focus. Go to Full Review David Reddish Queerty 03/13/2022
3.5/4
Both admirers and detractors of Zoey Tur will find no shortage of ammunition here, as Yoka does a remarkable job at keeping his film objective, and with some of the most incendiary documentary footage on record. Go to Full Review A.S. Hamrah The Baffler 01/18/2022
Close to a hundred million people watched that live. Whirlybird is an invaluable document on how it happened. Go to Full Review Phil Guie Film-Forward.com 08/29/2021
4/5
Given that the Turs participated in the documentary and, in theory, gave their blessing to whatever footage was recycled, it's both surprising and remarkable to see their troubled marriage depicted in such unflinching terms. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeffrey 08/11/2021 Excellent relationship film with the backdrop of the major news stories in Los Angeles as told from a live helicopter by a husband & wife team. A must see! See more 06/25/2022 Oh my gosh I loved this movie. the husband and wife team go places and we see news we would have never seen because of them. See more david f @dfulmer 05/30/2022 Great film about a family that started a business to cover news in Los Angeles, then realized they needed a helicopter to get to the story in time with all the traffic. They ended up covering the OJ Simpson white Ford Bronco chase and Rodney King Police Verdict riots in a stunning way. Aside from those highlights, the family dynamic is fascinating as they rode a great idea to tremendous success only to see their business ultimately implode when the TV network they worked with went in another direction and the family also pretty much imploded due to stress, abuse, and business failure. If you like Los Angeles or journalism, you will love this. See more Read all reviews
Whirlybird

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Cast & Crew

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Matt Yoka

Director

Marika Gerrard

Self

Zoey Tur

Self

Katy Tur

Self

Andrea James

Writer

Diane Becker

Producer

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Whirlybird

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Whirlybird

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Movie Info

Synopsis Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, husband-and-wife team Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (then known as Bob) covered some of the city's most dramatic events and changed breaking news forever. An entirely unique view of Los Angeles presented through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, WHIRLYBIRD reframes many of the city's pivotal moments, including the L.A. riots and the O.J. Simpson pursuit.
Director
Matt Yoka
Producer
Diane Becker, Matt Yoka
Screenwriter
Andrea James, Andrea James
Distributor
Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co
Fishbowl Films, Different by Design, World of Wonder Productions, Submarine Entertainment, Steady Orbits
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 6, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 6, 2021
Runtime
1h 43m
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