Coming of age films are made often, but it's not everyday that one stands out as generation defining.
That's what we have with Lady Bird, a film that has been praised not just as the best of this year, but also the best of its genre. No surprise then, that it's been nominated for multiple Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director (in a first for Greta Gerwig). Lady Bird follows our lead, who has named herself "Lady Bird", a senior in high school who hates living in Sacramento and wants to go to college on the East Coast. She also finds herself falling in and out of love, making and breaking friendships, and most of all, dealing with her mother, with whom she has a tumultuous relationship.
Lady Bird is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and it'll remind you of the important people in your life, and that you need to keep them close. Now that it's available to stream at home, here are our five reasons why you need to see Lady Bird:
1. Greta Gerwig
We knew that Greta Gerwig had a movie like this in her. The actress already has impressive writing credits, most notably the films she co-wrote with Noah Baumbach, Frances Ha and Mistress America. Those films also had a coming-of-age feel, both following a female protagonist who is attempting to get her life together. We're so happy to see that Greta has finally stepped behind the camera where she belongs. While she's an incredibly gifted actress, Lady Bird makes it clear that she is meant to be a writer/director, and it feels as if her career has just been rejuvenated into something exciting and new.
2. The Cast
Saoirse Ronan is clearly one of the most talented actresses of her generation, and Lady Bird is further proof of this. Many are calling this her best performance yet, and considering her past work (roles in Brooklyn, Atonement, The Lovely Bones and more), this is high praise. Saoirse embodies Lady Bird, one of the most fully realized female teen protagonists you'll probably ever see, with every fibre of her being. Then there's Laurie Metcalf, the legendary actress who most would recognize from her role on "Roseanne" and who's been a staple of the New York theatre scene for decades, who richly deserves the Oscar nomination (and, we'd argue, the statue) for her role as Lady Bird's mom. The rest of the cast is rounded out by more up-and-comers including Lucas Hedges, Timothee Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, and Odeya Rush. Not to mention, notable performances from the likes of Tracy Letts and Lois Smith.
3. Authenticity
What Greta Gerwig brings to Lady Bird is an aura of profound understanding. While she claims the film isn't autobiographical (though many elements are true to her own experience growing up in Sacramento), there's definitely a lot of Greta in Lady Bird, and that's likely why every moment feels so real. Greta manages to do something exceptional, where the film is quirky, funny, and highly cinematic (it's also set in 2003, making it uniquely nostalgic), but as much as it feels like a movie, it also feels like it could be anybody's story. It's highly relatable, especially with characters who are all developed, and actors who have amazing chemistry.4. Mothers & Daughters
Surprisingly, there aren't that many movies about mothers and daughters, or at least none that feel as true as Lady Bird does. It's one of the most complex relationships in existence, and the way it's handled in Lady Bird made us feel as though we were watching our own experience on the screen. This is also a credit to the chemistry between Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, two gifted actresses who play off each other so naturally and who understood their characters so completely.
5. You'll Call Home
Lady Bird is the kind of film that when it's over, you'll want to talk to you mom. Or your dad. Or your sibling. Or a friend. It'll remind you of who in your life is important. It'll remind you that the arguments or tensions you have had with someone you love isn't worth ruining a relationship. It's the kind of film that will open your eyes and make you evaluate the people and things in your life that got you to where you are at that very moment. It's truly a special film.
Lady Bird is now available on the Cineplex Store. Click here to rent or buy!
Watch the trailer below!
Watch our interview with Greta Gerwig below!