Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut brings a charming take on adolescence to the screen. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson struggles to live with her stern mother and caring father while trying to fit into her school as well as trying to make a name for herself. When she finally has the dream to go to New York, she then reflects how little she really cared for her hometown, Sacramento, and how much she really valued it.
I watched the featurette about Gerwig bringing the story to life. She was concerned with casting newcomer Saoirse Ronan because she’s Irish. With this and SNL, do people have a problem with people changing their accents? For years I thought Hugh Jackman was British because he did so many British roles flawlessly. He’s Australian. For years I didn’t know Russell Crowe was Australian, nor Nicole Kidman. They, and many others, all managed to change their accents for the sake of the characters they played and fooled us all beautifully. If you have a problem with that, then you shouldn’t be in the film industry.
The featurette also talked about Laurie Metcalf’s deadpan humor while being serious. I didn’t pick up on that. Instead, I see a nagging mother trying to keep her wits about her. Don’t get me wrong, Metcalf played the part beautifully. I watched her for ten TV years as the wacky Jackie Harris on the controversial Roseanne, and it was a shock to see her in a part this dramatic.
The hidden element in the film is that the story is set six months after 9/11. Though no one they knew died that day, they and everyone else lived cautiously. The McPhersons lived like a regular on-the-poverty-line family struggling to make ends meet: Mom is working double shifts at the hospital, Dad is laid off, brother is the manager at a grocery store, and the main character dreams of a better life. She dreams it so hard that she convinced people that her ex-boyfriend’s grandmother’s house was hers. Until it blew up in her face.
We really don’t know where she got the name Lady Bird. I assume she got it from Lady Bird Johnson, President Lyndon’s wife, but there is no picture of her on Lady Bird’s wall. Lady Bird is a rebellious teen like we all were at one point, and it gets her into trouble constantly, one incident getting her suspended from the school.
Timothée Chalamet surprisingly starred as the biggest butthole since Jacob Black as the ruins probably one the biggest moments in anyone’s life for Lady Bird by taking away her virginity while giving her the impression that she took his too. And yes you did, dude. You did tell her that you’ve never done it. We have you on camera. You’re so lucky you have another film that makes you more redeemable.
I feel the movie left us on a cliffhanger. Lady Bird finally goes to New York, gets drunk one night, and gets sent to the hospital. When she is released she stands outside a Catholic church and calls her mother, telling her how much she really appreciates everything she did for her, and how much she underestimated Sacramento. Then it ends. It was a “That’s it?” moment. Will there be a sequel? A continuing story focused on her mother, a prequel, something that starts with “Things weren’t always this way?” I really felt empty afterward.
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Released On: December 1, 2017
Rating: R
Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothée Chalamet
Director: Greta Gerwig Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99% Certified Fresh
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Picture - Nominated
- Best Director Greta Gerwig - Nominated
- Best Actress Saoirse Ronan - Nominated
- Best Supporting Actress Laurie Metcalf - Nominated
- Best Original Screenplay Greta Gerwig - Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
- Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - Winner
- Best Actress Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Saoirse Ronan - Winner
- Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture Laurie Metcalf - Nominated
- Best Screenplay Greta Gerwig - Nominated
(Click here to view more awards for "Lady Bird")
I didn't like the ending either. It reminded me a lot of Catherine hardwick's Thirteen.Im unaware of Timothee Chalamet's redeeming film, but I will say this is a testament to his acting chops that we hated him so violently. He played an Evil part extremely well. I think we can't fault him personally for this. I too did not pick up on the subtle humor of Laurie Metcalf's character. Although I thought she played the part very well and actually made me feel uncomfortable with the concerned overbearing mother part of my own self. When did I become that woman? In my mind I still think I'm Lady Bird...
ReplyDeleteSuper cheats spoiler: pause the film as you are watching and read every word of each one of those letters in the end.♡