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Synopsis: Christine “Lady Bird”McPherson fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom, a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird’s father loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home. (a24)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, and Tracy Letts
Writer: Greta Gerwig
Director: Greta Gerwig
Rating: n/a
Running Time: 93mins
Trailer:
Here’s another coming of age film with a female protagonist after last year’s The Edge of Seventeen.Unlike The Edge of Seventeen, Lady Bird goes a little deeper, focusing on Christine “Lady Bird”McPherson’s (Ronan) relationship with her mother Marion (Metcalf) and her hometown of Sacramento, California. Being a teen, Lady Bird acted the way a teen would act. She didn’t get along with her mother, she rebelled, and she didn’t like her catholic school or where she lived. Now in her final year of high school and on the verge of going to college, she finally has the opportunity to leave but she has a lot of growing up to do before that happens.
Lady Bird’s journey was approached with a considerable degree of realism which just made it more compelling to watch. She’s not a perfect person, however, her many flaws were what made her more relatable. The film also manages to effectively balance both family drama and comedy thanks to Gerwig’s excellent script. At times it can be hilarious and others incredibly touching but what sells this were the performances by Ronan and Metcalf. Ronan nailed Lady Bird’s quirkiness and Metcalf was equally strong. Their relationship was the best part of the film and it definitely would not have worked without their great chemistry.
Overall, this was a great, well-written, coming of age dramedy featuring strong performances from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf.
Score: 9.5/10
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The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.