Let Me Make One Thing Clear--"Lady Bird" Is NOT About Mrs. LBJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Christine McPherson, who prefers to go by the name of "Lady Bird" is the Frankie Adams of her generation.  She is out there, different, and, of course, she is a teenager.  She feels stuck in Sacramento, CA, which she calls "the Midwest of California."  She feels where she lives is on the wrong side of the tracks, and she is desperate to get out.

                              Like any teen, she has obstacles, and this film superbly delineates them.  One is her mother, Marion, superbly played, in a bravura turn, by Laurie Metcalf.  Marion works in a psych ward, has accepted missing out on her life's opportunities, so, misguidedly, she wants to protect her child from disappointment by not trying to stand out, not to reach for what is probably unreachable.

                                Lady Bird, will have none of it, and, in an understated way, Saoirse Ronan gives the kind of performance every teen in her situation--even those of us having been there--will find spot on, and inspirational.  There is also that fine young actor, Lucas Hedges, as sometime boyfriend Danny O'Neill, with a secret of his own.  Tracy Letts is the understanding parent in the McPherson household, and Beanie Feldstein is enchanting as friend Julie.  Not to mention the divine Lois Smith as Sister Sarah Joan.   And Stephen Henderson, as Father Leviatch.

                               In summing up 2017, I cited "Novitiate" as the year's only Catholic movie!  "Lady Bird" could be taken as such, but only peripherally.  It happens the high school the students in the film go to is Catholic, but  with a lighter touch.  No Gladys Cooper histrionics here!  Pretty forward thinking for them to be putting on Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along."  My favorite sequences  revolved around this; I am so glad no one clued me in to this, as it was such a delightful surprise!
And Saoirse and Lucas really have musical chops; wait till you hear her on "Everybody Says Don't," from "Anyone Can Whistle," and he on "Giants In The Sky" from "Into The Woods!!!!!!!!"  My God, why weren't these two cast in "La La Land??????????"

                                The mother-daughter clashes between Saoirse and Laurie are wonderfully rendered, but don't go dismissing Marion McPherson as a horrible mother, just yet.  Beneath all their tension is a deep and abiding love.

                                  "Lady Bird" is a simple story, beautifully told, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who has been around for some time, but whose breakthrough film this truly is.

                                    And yet. And yet. Like so many good films I have seen this year, none has hit me in the solar plexus, to where I thought, "This is the BEST film of the year."  That happened to me last year, with "Manchester By The Sea," but so far, not this year.  Like so many films of quality this year, including this one, I have seen some of the best acting of the year, but where is the Best Film out there?  Or will it simply elude me?

                                      But "Lady Bird" needs to be seen.  Engaging and endearing, without being cloying, it is an actors' film, with a dream ensemble of a cast!  See this film for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!