Lady Bird | Movie Review

Chances are in the past few weeks you have heard something about Lady Bird. Whether it be its great performances or it's record of being the only film to have a unanimous 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, there has been a lot of buzz about this small indie film. But movies with this much talk prerelease always have a hard time postrelease due to unmanaged expectations and false hopes. In fact, most films (or games or books) with such acclaim from critics end up falling short with audiences. However, Lady Bird is a rare treat that delivers its promise.

Lady Bird is a coming of age story about a high school senior self-named Lady Bird. In a way, the movie is a slice of life of a family that is just barely making it financially with a daughter who has big (and expensive) dreams. Although we do see glimpses of other characters and their realities, we mostly follow Lady Bird as she tries to find her place in her seemingly suffocating world. Needless to say, Lady Bird does not have a groundbreaking story. The concept of a girl from a low-income family that is experiencing some problems is not new. However, the way it's handled in its execution is where the joy of Lady Bird comes from.

Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird in Lady Bird

The relatively small cast does a great job in their roles and helps bring the already grounded characters to life. Along with Lady Bird herself, Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf as Lady Bird's mom and Tracy Letts as Lady Bird's dad do a fantastic job. Beanie Feldstein as Lady Bird's best friend may be very similar to her character from Neighbors 2, but the nuances of writing and acting make it unique enough to enjoy. The rest of the teachers and students are just as good, each given their time to shine. No one person steals the show in the movie, giving room for each other to do their own parts justice.

As great as the acting is, however, the real talking point is what's going on behind the camera. The directing and writing really pushes the film forward and differentiates it from other films in the genre. This is the second time Greta Gerwig has written and directed a film (the first being a 2008 film called Nights and Weekends) and she has crafted something truly special and personal. Although I did sit in deep silence, I didn't break into tears during the film, but at key points in the story, I did hear sniffles coming from the girls in the back and nods of agreement coming from parents in the front. Accompanying the great writing is beautiful direction and cinematography that does a great job of capturing the feel of early 2000s Sacramento, California.

Then there is the editing. This, I believe, maybe the thing that separates those who like the film and those who love it. The editing is unusual and takes a bit to get used to. The film tends to jump across scenes frequently instead of seeing a situation through to the end. The middle of a heated conversation or bold decision will often be cut off by a scene after the consequences of the situation have already been dealt with. This can feel like you are missing out on key points (especially because the film already is scraping by feature length with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes), but the rhythm is set from the opening shot of the film and gives you time to assimilate. (Given that the movie doesn't cut to black about 30 minutes in.) In a way, it's as if you are jumping into Lady Bird's life at a random time in her life which perfectly serves the aforementioned "slice of life" feel of the movie.

In the end, Lady Bird is a fantastic coming of age story of a girl in high school. It's effortlessly acted by a small yet strong cast and that's only a fraction of what makes it special. The down to earth writing and superb directing tells a relatable story for audiences of all ages and genders. The amalgamation of all its gears working together makes for a short experience that is worth watching in theaters. Just make sure you go in with a level head and don't watch the trailers. It'll be worth it.