"Lady Bird" (2017)

Rating: R:15

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Directed By: Greta Gerwig

Written By: Greta Gerwig

Released: November 3^rd, 2017

Runtime: 93 minutes

Studio: A24

Summary:

Marion McPherson, a California nurse, works tirelessly to keep her family afloat after her husband loses his job. She also maintains a turbulent bond with a teenage daughter who is just like her -- loving, strong-willed and deeply opinionated.

Review:

This is how a coming of age film is done. I’ve been very excited to see this film since I saw the trailer. It lived up to my expectations if even beyond. 

Saoirse Ronan goes above and beyond in her role as Lady Bird. The character herself is very opinionated, determined if even stubborn. She’s also incredibly lovable. She’s finding her way in life, figuring out what she wants – as the case with all coming of age central characters. But Lady Bird has a charm about her that sets her apart from your typical Coming Of Age adolescent lead. She’s both innocent and almost worldly simultaneously. She’s a very strong person and even though she doesn’t always make the right decisions and have the right attitude towards situations but she’s so strong and usually everything she does are for the right reasons. 

Her relationship with her mother is at the heart of the film. The ups and downs of two such strong personalities. Laurie Metcalf is equally phenomenal. Both actresses together make this story extremely special. They fight, sometimes so much so the daughter is forced to jump from a moving car, but in the end they know how much the other loves the other and this is what makes both of them equally likable and easy to love and relate to. Some scenes are hard to watch.  Their relationship as a whole is something that many can relate to I’m sure. I think this is what propels the film.

Considering that this is a debut from director Greta Gerwig this is something to be proud of. Outstanding. It’s one of the best, most realistic and eloquent portrayals of the discomfort and uncertainess of the adolescent experience I’ve seen in one of these types of films. Insightful and delightful.

The film has the look of a lower budget film in many ways but its this look that gives it more of an intensity and intimacy so we can get right into the characters’ lives. 

I love the colours in this film. They’re so rich and much of them are very vibrant and bold. The three primary colours are very prominent. We’ve got red in Saoirse Ronan’s hair. The vibrant blue of the house she loves in her neighbourhood and longs to live in. And the yellowness within the lighting of darker scenes.  To my way of thinking it’s very aesthetically pleasing.  

This is a thoroughly enjoyable film. I hope it does as well as it deserves in the Academy Awards this year. It deserves recognition for the success it is. 

TRAILER: