Saturday, November 11, 2017

Lady Bird 2017


No this is not a biopic about Lady Bird Johnson but a smart funny sometimes sentimental little movie about a young teenager pushing against boundaries and borders that surround her young life. That young life lives in Sacramento circa 2002 and is the Lady Bird of the title. Her given name is Christine but she insists on being called Lady Bird and this 17 year old has a mind of her own. Played by the sublime and great 23 year old actress Saoirse Ronan this is one of the great performances of the year and she is matched to perfection by the equally great Laurie Metcalf who plays her much put upon mother. This is one of the best coming of age teen movies you are likely to see, its fast, funny, insightful and as I said sometimes a little too sentimental, but its a fast 93 minutes so the sentimental parts don't hurt too much. The film is directed and sharply written by the eccentric likeable actress Greta Gerwig who based it somewhat on her own teen years, although she insists that it is not autobiographical. Whatever Greta but you sure know how to direct and write good. Lady Bird goes to a Catholic high school and she pretty much wrecks hysterical havoc there and also at home where she has deep riffs with her mother and a loving positive relationship with her supportive out of work father played by Tracy Letts who I prefer much more as an actor than a playwright. The rest of the cast is also marvelous and I especially liked the darling dumpling of an actress Beanie Feldstein as Lady's loyal best friend, but the film belongs to Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf as daughter and mother doing the best they can do with mixed results and some visible battle scars. The film is a hit, and look for many Oscar nominations coming its way. I laughed, I cried I had a wonderful time with this Lady Bird.

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