High Flying Bird

High Flying Bird

Year: 2019

Runtime: 90 min

Language: English

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Echo Score: 71

Budget: $2M

DramaSport

During a pro basketball lockout, agent Ray Burke finds himself embroiled in a tense conflict between the league and its players. Facing a career crisis, he races against the clock to discover a critical loophole that could shift the balance of power. With just 72 hours to act, Ray must use all his skill and cunning to outmaneuver the league and determine who ultimately controls the game.

High Flying Bird (2019) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at High Flying Bird (2019) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the high‑stakes world of professional basketball, a sudden lockout throws the sport’s entire economy into chaos. Owners, players, and the endless machinery that keeps the league running are suddenly at odds, and every decision reverberates through arenas, broadcast studios, and the streets where fans live the game. The atmosphere is electric and claustrophobic, a blend of corporate brinkmanship and street‑level passion that turns every conversation into a possible game‑changer.

Ray Burke is an agent caught in the eye of that storm, his career hanging by a thread as the agency that once thrived teeters on the brink of collapse. With just 72 hours to uncover a legal loophole that could tip the balance of power, he must navigate a maze of contracts, egos, and desperate ambitions. The pressure is relentless, and the ticking clock fuels a relentless drive that forces him to question not only his professional tactics but also his own purpose within a sport that suddenly feels detached from its fans.

Around him swirl the key figures who shape the conflict’s human side. Erick Scott, a rising star whose future is as uncertain as the league’s, embodies the players’ yearning for security. Jamero Umber, a charismatic rookie, represents the fresh talent caught in the crossfire of veteran politics. David Starr, the agency’s senior partner, looms as both mentor and obstacle, while Sam, Ray’s former assistant, offers a perspective that blends loyalty with a restless desire for change. Their interactions are charged with ambition, fear, and the thin line between collaboration and competition.

The film’s tone is a sleek, tense blend of corporate thriller and sports drama, its visual style crisp and its dialogue sharp. It invites viewers to sit at the edge of a negotiating table, feeling the weight of every decision that could rewrite the rules of the game. As the clock winds down, the audience is left wondering whether ingenuity can outpace institutional inertia, and what price will be paid for a victory that’s measured in more than just points.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 02:04

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Narratives typically follow a sharp protagonist, often an agent or fixer, who must navigate a complex web of power dynamics. The plot revolves around a race against the clock to uncover a key advantage, manipulate media, or shift control, emphasizing mental agility over physical action.

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Narrative Summary

The journey involves challenging an established order or powerful entity. The protagonist succeeds in creating meaningful change or exposing a truth, but the resolution is intellectually satisfying rather than emotionally jubilant, often leaving relationships or the full impact of the victory ambiguous.

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These films share a specific emotional arc: a complex, strategic plot leading to a victory that feels earned yet bittersweet. The mood is a mix of thought-provoking urgency and powerful, but not wholly happy, resolution.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in High Flying Bird

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