Column: Why everyone's talking about 'Lady Bird,' and why you should be too
I Greta Gerwig ’s movie “Lady Bird” the other day and this is my three-word review: went to see What a relief. What a relief to see a movie that so genuinely reflects a woman’s experience and viewpoint, and what a contrast to the trailers that preceded it in the theater on the day I was there. “Lady Bird” is the story of a teenage girl coming of age in Sacramento and dreaming of a life beyond her family and her hometown. The film is witty and tender, shrewd but not cynical, and quiet, so blissfully quiet. By quiet, I don’t mean dull. The plot clipped along at a brisk pace, centered on the relationships between Christine, aka Lady Bird, and the people in her life. They’re normal people. There’s Lady Bird’s mother, who works as a nurse; her father, who loses his job; her brother, teachers, friends and the high school boys who light up her imagination but who, inevitably, aren’t exactly what she imagines. It’s a film notable in part for what it lacks. No car chases. No e...
