X
- 2017
- R
- 1 h 34 m
- 2017
- R
- 1 h 34 m
Summary Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting Americ...
Directed By: Greta Gerwig
Written By: Greta Gerwig
- 2017
- R
- 1 h 34 m
- 2017
- R
- 1 h 34 m
Lady Bird
7.6
Where to Watch
Summary Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting Americ...
Directed By: Greta Gerwig
Written By: Greta Gerwig
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 52 Critic Reviews
93
98% Positive
51 Reviews
51 Reviews
2% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 52 Critic Reviews
93
98% Positive
51 Reviews
51 Reviews
2% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Writer-director Greta Gerwig’s semiautobiographical Lady Bird is both generous and joyous, but when it stings, it stings deep.
Lady Bird is a joy, from its start...to its finish, when that ever-so-slightly older young woman takes a breath and looks out — hopefully, nervously, excitedly — into a limitless future.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 1,056 User Ratings
7.6
79% Positive
838 Ratings
838 Ratings
12% Mixed
124 Ratings
124 Ratings
9% Negative
94 Ratings
94 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 1,056 User Ratings
7.6
79% Positive
838 Ratings
838 Ratings
12% Mixed
124 Ratings
124 Ratings
9% Negative
94 Ratings
94 Ratings
With one of my favourite trailers of the year, the awards attention, the theme of coming of age and the critical acclaim, 'Lady Bird' very quickly became one of the year's most anticipated films for me. Deliberately didn't see it at opening weekend though, just in case it was busy and difficult to get tickets, after the insane opening weekend of 'Black Panther'.
'Lady Bird' in no way disappointed. With the above, was hoping that it would be one of my favourite films of the year and it turned out to be exactly that, the awards attention and acclaim more than fully deserved. This doesn't just fly, 'Lady Bird' actually soars and have not seen a coming of age-themed film in recent memory this sparkling or honest or with this amount of humour, brains, heart and charm. Have seen it mentioned as a passion project, and if it was the passion and hard work can be seen all over.
It is a very appealing film visually, with beautiful and colourful cinematography and with editing that flows succinctly and cohesively. The music is has energy yet knows when to understate itself when needed. In her first film as solo director, Greta Gerwig directs with a nimble touch, the comedy is light on its feet and she avoids making the emotional elements heavy-handed or tonally jarring.
The script is one of the year's best, my personal pick actually for this year's Best Original Screenplay Oscar of the nominees. The comedy sparkles in wit and is genuinely hilarious, done in an honest and true to life way yet with some cringes like it would be in real life too. Over-sentimentality is avoided in the more emotional and dramatic scenes, there are some really sweet and poignant moments and an endearing personal touch.
Found myself really emotionally investing in and relating to the mother and daughter relationship, their bonding bringing tears to my eyes and then making me smile and laugh when botched and leaving me with hope at resolution at the same time. The coming of age/angsty elements have a truthfulness, authenticity and twinkle and it was very easy to identify with them if in the same position growing up, they're often very funny but also very heartfelt and charming.
Story is immensely engaging throughout right from the riotous opening to the more emotional and avoiding-being-too-pat ending, anchored by the mother and daughter relationship that entertains, moves and provokes thought. Didn't mind at all that it wasn't ground-breaking, due to not expecting it to be as coming of age can be predictable. Enjoyed the way the characters were written, and appreciated that the film broke away from the typical archetype of school teachers being over-disciplinary and without humour.
Performances are never less than great, with Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf fully inhabiting their characters and phenomenally. It was wonderful for both to get awards attention with both giving two of the year's best performances. Lois Smith twinkles too in her role.
If Lucas Hedges (who has grown quite a lot) and Timothee Chalamet (not as good as his truly remarkable performance in 'Call Me By Your Name' but showing why he is one of the most promising recent rising stars) continue to go down this promising path they are likely to go on to big careers.
Concluding, fabulous film and one of my favourites of the year. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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Greta Gerwig, already established as a wonderful actor, makes her directorial debut in one of the best coming of age stories in years. Saoirse Ronan gives yet another Oscar-worthy performance as the title character in what will surely be one of her most memorable roles.
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Despite hitting so many classic coming-of-age hallmarks, Lady Bird never feels anything but fresh (and refreshing). This is, in part, due to the the film’s remarkably realistic performances.
Gerwig doesn’t trap her protagonist in the oblivious underage bubble that most coming-of-age dramedies inhabit; Lady Bird’s parents, played by Tracy Letts and Laurie Metcalf, are fully formed humans with their own deep flaws and vulnerabilities.
In her first solo writing and directing effort, the hard-working indie film actress Greta Gerwig proves that she is her own muse. She takes the well-worn coming-of-age-dramedy format and fashions something fresh, funny, and artful from its familiar tropes. Also delivering the goods is a knockout cast of accomplished veterans and relative newcomers.
A coming-of-age story like no other, Lady Bird is smart, emotional, funny and completely original. Rarely has a directorial debut been so assured, so singular and so heartwarmingly affecting.
That humor, like the film's moments of drama, tends to be measured rather than over the top -- but on the whole that's a good thing. It suggests a filmmaker who knows the value of restraint, which is a rarity, particular in a first-timer.
You could argue it's unrealistic, but there's something about Lady Bird that when you watch it, it feels undeniably real. One of the best filmmaking debuts of all time, Lady Bird is probably the best coming of age movie. Ever.
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I don't get the hype. It was a pretty alright movie carried on its back by its actors performances but the movie didn't blow me away like the reviews seemed to indicate. A little weird but realistic. I felt like it was on the cusp of being pretty good, just not quite there.
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Christine McPherson is an ambitious senior high school student who dreams of moving to the East Coast to attend college. When he decides to join a drama club, his life changes completely.
This film is a teen movie that runs through all the clichés of the classic coming of age story in the most banal and boring way possible. A film that says nothing and that does not have the slightest merit.
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Didn't find it too attractive from the beginning but was hoping the later part would surprise me but it failed. The whole shooting is too plain, the story could dig deeper to discover the mind of a teen and the background music did not exist at all. Maybe there's cultural background difference but I like many coming of age stories from different countries directed by varied directors, however this one's a blow-average.
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Production Company
IAC Films,
Scott Rudin Productions,
Entertainment 360,
Mission Films
Release Date Nov 3, 2017
Duration 1 h 34 m
Rating R
Tagline Time to Fly.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 5 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 2 Wins & 4 Nominations
Columbus Film Critics Association
• 5 Wins & 10 Nominations
