Review: LADY BIRD

'I hate you, Mom!'
'No you don't!'
'Yes I do!'
'Never Mind, I made your favorite...'
'Ooh! Cheesecake! I love you!'
'Clean up your room first!'
'I hate you mom!'

3.5 stars

Mini Review: 

On a very basic level, this movie is just that. About the love-hate relationship between mothers and daughters. But then there's growing up, and falling in love and loving a place called home, and the yearning to fly away and then learning to come back... The heartbreaks are so many, it elevates the film from the story of a mere annoying, thankless teenager and her pathetic, irritated mother to something sublime. It's about coming home.

Main Review:

Meet Christine "Lady Bird" McPhearson, Soarise Ronan (pronounced 'Ser-sha' like 'Intertia') in a brilliant brilliant title role. She want to get away from boring old Sacramento to somewhere where there's culture on the streets, like New York, or New Hampshire where writers live in woods... And her mother is happy to point out that 'I doubt you're good enough to get admission in those colleges.'

Her dad Larry McPhearson has a small role in the mother daughter saga, but has the best dialog line in the movie, and I think all girls should write that down for a reference of a lifetime. He says, 'You're not going to get in the car with a guy that honks, are ya?'

And you want to hug the dad for knowing his place in the universe: I'm like Keith Richards. Am just happy to be anywhere.

And every girl must have a friend like Jules with whom you can share just about anything: I had sex, Lady Bird says, but then I discovered I liked dry humping more. Jules is the kind of friend who is funny, sad, kind, loving and encouraging and shares everything from crushes and homework...

Everyone has crushes on the wrong guys. Whether it is Danny or Kyle. And everyone has been blinded by pretty girls who are rich and who seem to have everything together. Their skin shines too...And it has a nun at school, you wish you had when you went to a school run by nuns. Sister Sarah Joan says, 'Six inches to the Holy Spirit!' and you giggle helplessly in your seat. She is also the one who points out to Lady Bird, 'Isn't love and paying attention, the same thing?'

But does everyone have a mother like Laurie Metcalf who plays Marion McPhearson? Do you have the courage to have a conversation with mom?

• Lady Bird: Why can't you say I look nice?

• Mom: I thought you didn't even care what I think.

• Lady Bird: I still want you to think I look good.

• Mom: Okay, I'm sorry. I was telling you the truth, do you want me to lie?

• Lady Bird: No, I mean, I just, I wish that you liked me.

• Marion McPherson: Of course I love you.

• Lady Bird: But do you like me?

It is exhausting to be the mother of a child like Lady Bird. But Laurie Metcalf, as Bollywood would describe it, is shown in a 'makeupless avataar' allowing only her frustrations show her immense talent. 

My favourite moment of the mother-daughter kindling relationship comes when Lady Bird comes home, her head in the clouds from her first love, has to face a mother who does not notice anything but the clothes strewn in the room.

'Do we have to do this tonight? Lady Bird asks...

This film has so much dialog that has been taken from my own life, it is ingrained in my head. The film is for anyone and everyone who had a tough time growing up, and could not relate to family... Alas it has been painted on a canvas that is only Sacramento and not larger than life for the Oscars, but it will win at least the best supporting female actor for Metcalf.