Review of Lady Bird (2017) by Ryan B — 05 Dec 2017

There aren't many movies that have had as honest an emotional effect on me as Lady Bird. The only "flaw" with the movie is that the realizations Lady Bird has about herself and her life are almost too mature for her age.

I wish I had that much self-awareness at 17. Her decision to be honest with herself and her date about prom and the eventual voicemail she leaves could be too unbelievable, but it makes for such a satisfying viewing experience that it filled me with such joy.

Too often do we see characters in movies (especially teenage characters) make the wrong choices and have to learn from their mistakes. That's an easy way to provide conflict. Lady Bird often makes the right decisions, and yet still faces conflict from her actions and her relationship with her mom.

Laurie Metcalf delivers one of my favorite performances of the year, as an overworked and frustrated parent who has a hard time finding the balance between loving her kids and trying to prepare them, Lady Bird specifically, for the real world.

The entirety of her character and her parenting is molded around the idea that at least she's not as bad as her mom was. Even though its only mentioned once, it's such a genuine motivation, and it's played beautifully.

There is a constant theme of attention as a demonstration of love. Between Lady Bird and her Mom, Lady Bird and her friends, and eventually Lady Bird and her city of Sacramento. As a male from Texas, I understood and connected with her.