Lady Bird

Plot: Rebelous high schooler Lady Bird (Saorse Ronan) goes through a couple boyfriends and girlfriends on the way to her dream college. She butts heads with her Mom (Laurie Metcalf) as she goes through Senior year, picks a college, gets a summer job, and goes to prom. [imdb]    [photos]

Review: I really thought this was a biopic of President Johnson's wife Lady Bird, just like they made Jackie last year. I was surprised and confused that it was set in 2002. Unexpectedly, it is about another girl named Lady Bird.

This one lives lower middle-class and somewhat rebellious life in a Catholic high school, and has all the problems of regular high school girls, though more rebellious and well-read than most.

Everyone has to love the acting, because it is wonderful. It is a seminar in emoting. Saorse's Lady Bird is fun, quirky, and always likable. The script is strong, but not overwrought like an Aaron Sorkin movie. It's never boring.

 I liked it, and it is staying with me like a thoughtful movie should. 

Cast: Saorse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothee Chalamet, Lucas Hedges

Directed and written by: Greta Gerwig, who grew up in Sacramento. She said she was much more conventional -- though we know she was a drama kid. 

The Music: A variety of pop songs. I liked the oldie from the Monkees, As We go Along. Other highlights are The Crossroads by Bone Thugs and Harmoney, and Little of Your Love by Haim. 

The Visuals: Mostly people talking. I liked the dance scene at the end. 

Rating: 3.5 stars: You have to love the acting. It is a feel good story. Not sure it has a message, and that keeps this from being 4 stars. (4 star dramas should be more than just character studies, see Marshall.)

More: Writer/director Gerwig says the "concept of home [...] only comes into focus as it is receding." I think that is true.

Even More: We saw this because it is an Oscar movie. It is not "Classic" enough for best picture.

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