This is something I will openly admit at the start of this review:
this is a film I've likely gotten wrong. With all the unending praise
that this film has recieved since it's debut, I have no doubt in my mind
that it's me. That I have missed something. That I denied myself the
magic somehow.
But, with that out of the way, I will stand by my current belief; this is a very solid, very good film, that never really reaches the brilliance it could. It reaches for it, in various moments throughout, from a quiet moment of hometown reflection, to a time of self realization and admittance to a love you've denied yourself to long. This is a film that tries to both by important, and hide it's importance through it's seemingly simple storytelling. But for me, this yearning simply came off as slight.
The great pieces are there. The relationship between Lady Bird and her mother (Laurie Metcalf is fantastic as a mother always on the fringes) is of course one of the highlights, at times warm and loving, at others standoffish and self-serving. It truly captures a relationship in a way rarely portrayed on screen.
I think where the film falters for me is that this is the only relationship I had any investment in was this one. The two romantic relationships Lady Bird finds herself in throughout the film never seem more to me than momentary puppy-dog levels of love. And while these are the types of relationships we find ourselves in when in high school, they just seemed unimportant, not just to me but to Lady Bird herself. Flashes in the pan. And while the moment she realizes this herself can be compelling, they don't really charge of excitement or rage or any strong emotional reaction, despite the passion they originally burned with.
The film remotely approaches the idea of class and wealth as well, but it's never seen as a driving force in the film. It can spark arguments, and decisions, but it never really seems to touch Lady Bird herself. She can still achieve stuff out of her financial reach, can still be one of the "rich kids" even if she is not. The family's financial situation is played at, but in the end is never really an obstacle our lead has to face. It comes off as false.
One of the themes I truly appreciated from Gerwig is the idea of what home is. This film borrows heavily from Gerwig's own past and is filmed entirely in her own home town. The idea of home being something you can only truly appreciate with time, something you don't know you have until it's gone, is lovely. It doesn't hit you, it's not a punch in the gut, but instead a slow realization, a learning experience, teased out throughout the film until you are left longing for your own home, wherever and whatever it may be to you.
But when it comes to it, the films strong suits do shine through more than it's faults. The relationship between mother and daughter, a difficult and complicated competition between love and care and burden. Gerwig understands that love is not simply saying yes, in fact it may be never saying yes. Love is protecting, is guiding and at times forceful, and can hurt in the moment, can linger in pain. But if it's true, if it's hard love, it will transform you, and only for the better.
But, with that out of the way, I will stand by my current belief; this is a very solid, very good film, that never really reaches the brilliance it could. It reaches for it, in various moments throughout, from a quiet moment of hometown reflection, to a time of self realization and admittance to a love you've denied yourself to long. This is a film that tries to both by important, and hide it's importance through it's seemingly simple storytelling. But for me, this yearning simply came off as slight.
The great pieces are there. The relationship between Lady Bird and her mother (Laurie Metcalf is fantastic as a mother always on the fringes) is of course one of the highlights, at times warm and loving, at others standoffish and self-serving. It truly captures a relationship in a way rarely portrayed on screen.
I think where the film falters for me is that this is the only relationship I had any investment in was this one. The two romantic relationships Lady Bird finds herself in throughout the film never seem more to me than momentary puppy-dog levels of love. And while these are the types of relationships we find ourselves in when in high school, they just seemed unimportant, not just to me but to Lady Bird herself. Flashes in the pan. And while the moment she realizes this herself can be compelling, they don't really charge of excitement or rage or any strong emotional reaction, despite the passion they originally burned with.
The film remotely approaches the idea of class and wealth as well, but it's never seen as a driving force in the film. It can spark arguments, and decisions, but it never really seems to touch Lady Bird herself. She can still achieve stuff out of her financial reach, can still be one of the "rich kids" even if she is not. The family's financial situation is played at, but in the end is never really an obstacle our lead has to face. It comes off as false.
One of the themes I truly appreciated from Gerwig is the idea of what home is. This film borrows heavily from Gerwig's own past and is filmed entirely in her own home town. The idea of home being something you can only truly appreciate with time, something you don't know you have until it's gone, is lovely. It doesn't hit you, it's not a punch in the gut, but instead a slow realization, a learning experience, teased out throughout the film until you are left longing for your own home, wherever and whatever it may be to you.
But when it comes to it, the films strong suits do shine through more than it's faults. The relationship between mother and daughter, a difficult and complicated competition between love and care and burden. Gerwig understands that love is not simply saying yes, in fact it may be never saying yes. Love is protecting, is guiding and at times forceful, and can hurt in the moment, can linger in pain. But if it's true, if it's hard love, it will transform you, and only for the better.
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