Lady Bird (2017)

Set in 2002 Sacramento, a teenage girl (Saoirse Ronan) in her senior year deals with her strong willed mother (Laurie Metcalf) as well as discovering boys. Written and directed by the actress Greta Gerwig, this is a splendid look at the chaos and angst of being an adolescent whose parents just don't (or rather we think they don't) get it. Gerwig's screenplay is sharp and funny but never at the expense of the truth of the material, she doesn't go for the cheap laughs. Two sensational performances drive the film. Ronan continues to impress as one of the best young actresses working in film today and finally, the wonderful Laurie Metcalf gets a movie role worthy of her expansive talents. Their scenes together are pure bliss. If the film's conclusion seems all too familiar and perhaps the tiniest bit predictable, it's still been a thrilling journey to get there. The excellent supporting cast includes Lucas Hedges (MANCHESTER BY THE SEA), Tracy Letts, Timothee Chalamet, Lois Smith and Beanie Feldstein.