"An outspoken teen must navigate a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother over the course of an eventful and poignant senior year of high school."
REASONS WHY LADY BIRD IS BETTER THAN ALL THE OTHER BEST FILM NOMINEES:
It's really, really well written: The dialogue is punchy and funny without ever sacrificing believability. People talk like that.
It's well directed: It's a coming of age story that some would argue we've seen before. I agree, I've seen versions of this spelt out before, but none were as captivating or as well told as this one. It literally never dragged for me, Gerwig gives us these snapshots of a very well-realised life and they all feel relevant and entertaining.
She's a great character: Lady Bird felt like a real person, she's not a wholly good character - she steals, she lies, she manipulates, she can be a real shit but y'know, so can you. She's learning and she's growing and never felt contrived.
The mother/daughter relationship is fab: They've both got each other's best intentions at heart but they scream and condescend and act up at each other almost constantly. It's such a genuine, well told relationship. THE ENDING. agh.
It's so well observed: The nostalgic noughties quality, the teenage angst, the little moments, the big moments, the musings on love and friendship and the future. It's fantastic.
It's effortlessly feminist: The two central women are flawed and fascinating. It's the kind of film that portrays women in a way that never once feels try hard or shallow. It's everything Three Billboards could have been if it wasn't written on an etcher-sketch by a manchild with his dick in his hand.
IT'S JUST REALLY GOOD: It's just really, really good. Go see it.
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