60 Second Verdict: Ladybird
60 Second Verdict: Ladybird
17 February 2018
Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf play daughter and mother in this coming-of-age drama.
SUMMARY
Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saiorse Ronan) is an average teen in her final
year at school. She yearns for a meaningful, cultured life away from her poor family,
clashing often with her tough, hardworking mum (Laurie Metcalf, also excellent).
WHAT’S GOOD
Lady Bird is the small movie that could win big at the Oscars this year.
Rightfully nominated for Best Picture, this fantastic coming-of- age drama doesn’t sound like
much on paper. But thanks to the deft handling of actress Greta Gerwig – who writes and
directs, based loosely on her own life – Lady Bird turns clichés and conventions into a funny,
moving, honest portrait of the everyday effort of growing up. One prominent example is
how Lady Bird notably projects Christine’s fire AND flaws. Simple situations steadily reveal
the wry truth that, as teens, we aren’t as smart or worldly as we think we are. Plus, the
acting is top notch, especially Ronan and Metcalf as the sparring mother and daughter.
WHAT’S NOT
Lady Bird starts out so strongly that when it takes a turn, midway through,
into Christine trying too hard to be cool, the film starts to sag. The relationship issues
between Christine and her mum, as well as the tight bond she has with her best friend, get
pushed to the sidelines. While this is rectified towards the end, the finale should leave
audiences with a smaller sense of profundity than Lady Bird had been steadily driving
towards.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING
Christine goes to a Catholic school and Christianity wafts around
Christine. Those who follow Jesus are not the characters presented as big hearted or
morally relevant, yet Christine respects them – almost without knowing why. Christine is
vocally searching for meaning and direction and purpose and all the stuff we especially
crave when we are younger. But her parents – and the staff at the Catholic school – struggle
to know how to impart their beliefs, values and life lessons to the confident yet brittle teen.
In that light, Lady Bird is a case study in working out how you might want to help teens be
the best version of themselves.
Ladybird is rated MA15+ for brief strong nudity.
Comments
No comments yet - be the first.