We Gotta Get Outta This Place: Review of Lady Bird

Lady Bird

Director: Greta Gerwig

By Alex Watson

Greta Gerwig emerges as a talent to watch behind the camera. Lady Bird is a picture that sparkles and gives a deep yet hilarious look at the angst of youth. Dealing with people experiencing an identity crisis and the typical back and forth arguments between mother and daughter- Gerwig's movie feels refreshingly real. Although alongside the laughs there is a heavy emotional core that will audiences all the way to the bone.

Sacramento teenager Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is a high school senior who desperately wants out of her modest California life. Eager to leave home for illustrious college's on the East Coast, Lady Bird continuously bickers with her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalfe) over her future plans. Her family is facing a crisis since her father Larry (Tracy Letts) has been laid off. Although she is capable- Lady Bird must do far better to reach her dreams.

Early on in Lady Bird, Gerwig gives a close-up example of the problematic relationship between Christine and Marion. We first see the pair returning from a college tour crying over an audio tape of 'The Grapes of Wrath'. Initially, the pair lovingly reflects on it. Within moments, Marion is nagging her daughter over her apathy about her future which soon descends into her berating her to the point where Christine physically jumps out the vehicle. Marion is a character wracked by self-doubt and anxiety and her failure to inspire or connect with her daughter pains her. By no means is either character completely likable-Christine is a fiercely independent creature who chafes under the rule of her underbearing mother. Desperate for life on the East Coast where 'writers live in the woods' Christine attempts musical theatre as a way of boosting her college prospects.

Set in 2002 during Bush's America, money and wealth is also a talking point in this picture. The McPherson's are a family barely holding their head above water. Larry has struggled with depression and being out of work has put a huge financial strain on them. Despite this, he is still willing to help his daughter with her financial aid forms. When Christine befriends wealthy and popular Jenna (Odeya Rush) she pretends she lives in a big luxurious house in an affluent neighbourhood. Gerwig puts a good spin on the pain, angst, and joy or teenage crushes. Danny (Lucas Hedges) appears to have it the complete package- wealthy, handsome and from a close-knit Irish-Catholic family. However, in one subtle yet brilliant reveal, Gerwig superbly shatters Christine's portrait of him. Dreamy rocker and wannabe philosopher Kyle (Timothée Chalamet) is the boy who seems so wrong to us but a figure of aloof desire to her.

Lady Bird is heavily inspired by Gerwig's own experiences before going off to college. This is the element that makes her directorial debut feel so raw and real. Christine and Marion are the driving force of the movie and this is possibly the most realistic mother-daughter depiction you will ever see. Marion only wants the best for Christine- but that doesn't stop her from continually observing her flaws and picking her unrealistic expectations. Christine is also blind to just how much work her mother puts into keeping the family together. Though Gerwig is always careful to remind us how each insult comes from a place of affection. Few debuts are as assured or genuine as this one- being the best-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes in 2017 speaks volumes

Irish actress Saoirse Ronan once again is on firecracker form as Christine. Perfectly channeling her character's desperation to be something other than ordinary, Ronan is well cast. One of Hollywood's strongest young actresses, the 23-year-old never seeks for us to love this character- only to understand where she is coming from. Laurie Metcalfe should be the favourite on every person's supporting actress list. Known to audiences from her time on Broadway and as Sheldon Cooper's mother in Big Bang Theory. Metcalfe gives a supporting turn of sheer power and immense depth. Her Marion is a character that is always criticizing her daughter's choices. Through Metcalfe, we come to realize her words although cutting are actually being said of out love. 

Lady Bird is more than just a critic's darling this award season. Few indie efforts feels as polished or emotionally engaging as this one. Another hit for A24, who have been the studio to beat this year.

Broadcast News: Review of Christine

TIFF EXCLUSIVE 

Christine 

Director: Antonio Campos 

By Alex Watson 

Chances are if you look up a list of the most shocking moments in live TV history, the 1974 on-air suicide of Christine Chubbuck will most definitely feature. Antonio Campos's biopic Christine finally gives British actress Rebecca Hall the role that finally demonstrates her ability. Channelling her frustration and disillusion of working in the male-dominated world of journalism. A fundamental honest character study, the result is a harrowing and affecting tale. 

Christine Chubbuck (Rebecca Hall) is a 29-year-old journalist working for the small TV station, WRZB Sarasota in Florida. Convinced she is on the way up, her journalistic style doesn't go down well with her chauvinistic boss Michael (Tracy Letts). Unable to connect with her colleagues and unhappy about the continually boring stories she is saddled with, Christine will soon take a drastic step to make viewers sit up and pay attention. 

Opening with Chubbuck practicing filming herself doing an imaginary interview with Richard Nixon, Christine immediately cuts to her perfectionism and the strain this causes. Moments before her story is broadcast on air she demands they cut a few seconds to the anger of Michael. Campos also makes it abundantly clear just how much camera appeal Christine lacks. Coming across as bored and uncaring, she struggles to put any enthusiasm into any of the vanilla stories she is set to cover. While interviewing a fruit stall owner she fails to even look remotely interested. Set in the blood and guts era of 70's journalism, "If it bleeds, it leads" is very much the motto. 

Her inability to connect and find meaningful relationships is another key element to Campos' picture. The only real confidante she has is her mother Peg (J.Smith-Cameron) whom she fiercely depends on. When her mother announces she has met a new man, Chubbuck's reaction is like that of a spoiled child. Things with her co-workers fare little better, she pines after handsome news anchor George Ryan (Michael C Hall) but when the attraction is return she goes cold. Jean Reed (Maria Dizzia) is the one team member who attempts to reach out to her, but as a woman on the verge, Christine simply bypasses this. Campos highlights that her introverted and somewhat unapproachable nature may have lead to her icy and uncaring appearance on camera. 

Peg is concerned throughout about her daughter's worsening mental health. There are whispers about an incident while she lived in Boston. Michael's continually bad attitude towards her also begins to make her spiral, desperate for more air time she agrees to give her boss more bold and controversial stories, but like always with this man what she delivers just doesn't impress. Christine is essentially a build up to the moment that Chubbuck pulls the trigger live on air. Campos smartly doesn't just draw out the mileage and instead gives a marvellous and empathetic portrayal of a woman who just wants to be noticed but is unable to confront the feels that she has for people. When the moment hits, the result is still as shocking as it was back in 1974. Christine will achieve her on air notoriety and this breaks our hearts. 

After years of languishing in supporting parts in big films such as Iron Man 3, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and The Prestige, Rebecca Hall is finally given the role she was born to play. Wonderfully portraying the inner struggles that Christine Chubbuck suffered, Hall's monotone like delivery gives us a big window into the inferiority that she feels. Audiences should be prepared for a real whirlwind performance and in Christine's more reflective moments, Hall is simply electric. One scene sees her finally given a glimmer of hope by snagging a date with George, what follows is a slow decay of happiness which is completed by being forced to play the game "Yes, But" Hall in the sequence shows her meltdown has about to reach full circle. 

Christine is one of those movies that will fly under the radar at TIFF this year, but I think we all hope that Hall's name alone will feature on awards lists. Campos has given us a powerful story, I highly recommend audiences seek this out on general release. 

The Reich: Review of Imperium

Imperium

Director: Daniel Ragussis

By Alex Watson

Daniel Radcliffe might still be the Boy Wizard to some, but Imperium proves just how much talents lies beyond his spell at Hogwarts. A slow burning and tense affair, director Daniel Ragussis depiction of a young man going undercover with a White Supremacist group is frighteningly realistic. In this world keeping your identity is one thing, but having to go against your principle's to fit in is quite another. Ragussis throughout keeps things on a knife edge as the deeper into the circle our man goes, the more he could be exposed. 

Nate Foster (Daniel Radcliffe) is a young FBI agent who is unwillingly used as a pawn by agents Angela Zamparo (Toni Collette) and Tony Hernandez (Nestor Carbonell) to go undercover to investigate White Supremacists who are potentially looking to detonate a dirty bomb within Washington D.C. When integrated into his new surroundings, Nate finds himself the object of constant suspicion but also some grudging admiration for his smarts. As he begins to progress within the inner circle, Nate finds himself pressured to get results on a theory that might not exist. 

The interesting thing about Imperium is the way that it views White Nationalism, while it does criticise its attitude and its practices, its a very open-ended look. An opening montage of the hate speeches, literature and events practised by racist groups are terrifyingly spellbinding. From the moment Nate shaves his hair off and adopts his new persona, many of the group's leaders praise his smarts within the heat of the moment. However, no amount of quick thinking can ever truly erase the suspicion that he may not be one of them. There are the dangers of his cover being blown, during a white power march with a violent denouncement, Nate finds himself recognised by a black co-worker. These groups also have very big eyes and ears when it comes to newcomers and each little odd instance is picked up on and Nate has to constantly find a way to cover his tracks. 

There are a surprising amount of different levels and faces within the white power groups, Gerry Conway (Sam Tremmell) is the pleasant and amiable faced Godfather of the regime. Hateful right wing radio host, Dallas Wolf (Tracy Letts) is considered the honeypot to the FBI. Nate also finds himself facing the scary Andrew Blackwell (Chris Sullivan) of the Aryan Alliance and the highly suspicious Vince Sargent (Pawel Szajda). Each one of these groups has their attitude and fearful agenda's but each stands out in a different way. The more respect Nate attains within these groups, the more he alienates other members.  While the plot occasionally loses itself a little much within explaining the difference between groups and the search for the bomb becomes virtually non-existent towards the climax, Ragussis still puts together a powerful and realistic portrayal of these groups.  

As he finds himself getting closer, Hernandez during the final act also has the front burner under him to close this fast. Despite the fact he has what seems to be clear proof, his fellow agents merely scoff at him and tell him to bring more. Nate's relationship with Zamparo is a trying thing because although she is concerned for him, she also frowns upon the methods he uses to gain trust. Imperium is thrown a new curveball in the third with the addition of quiet psycho Morgan (Burn Gorman). Does the bomb really exist? Has Nate blown his big chance with an overly ambitious pitch to big wig Dallas? The finale is like a ticking time bomb and as Hernandez and his cronies close in we wonder will Nate make it alive out of this one? On the whole this a smart and deep thinking drama that makes it audience really think about exactly what methods should be used to get the right message across. 

Daniel Radcliffe finally gets a chance to show exactly how much talent he has in what is a career-best turn. Showing a depth of character and emotional conflict rarely seen before, Radcliffe has finally shed his Harry Potter past. Nate is a smart young man whom in even the face of danger is able to keep his head. Toni Collette is also strong as Angela Zamparo, his surrogate mother in the field. Although she uses him at times for her own gain, Collette also gives this character a good sense of concern. In the supporting ranks, Chris Sullivan firmly wins the day as the frightening yet respected leader Andrew. This is a man who is building his own army and has men who would lay down their lives for. Sullivan makes you believe every second of this is in a bold turn. 

Imperium is one of the most clever and powerful pieces you are likely to see this year. Listen to its message and draw your own conclusion.