From the mind of critically acclaimed actress Greta Gerwig (“20th Century Women”) comes “Lady Bird,” a semi-autobiographical coming of age film that she wrote and directed. The film hosts a star-studded cast including Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”), Lucas Hedges (“Manchester By the Sea”), Laurie Metcalf (“Getting On”) and Timothee Chalamet (“Call Me By Your Name”), and they are sure to be some of the finest Oscar bait of the season.

The movie focuses on Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Ronan), a high school senior in Sacramento who strives to go to college in New York, a goal that is nearly unattainable due to poor grades and well, being poor. She has a turbulent relationship with her mother (Metcalf), who tries to support her family with tough love and working constantly.

In her directorial debut, Gerwig crafts the perfect movie. The film, set in 2002, manages to fit the time period while also telling a timeless story. In a post-9/11 world, the stakes were high, people were more cautious, and many longed for connection, which they knew could so easily be cut off. Gerwig also captures the lower class realistically. The director wrote the screenplay, which is utterly astonishing. Lady Bird and her family are complicated. Nothing is black and white, the characters are flawed and the stories are genuine.

While the story focuses on Lady Bird, every character in the movie has their own individual problems, often more crucial than hers. These subplots are not the focus, though, to spotlight Lady Bird’s teenage selfishness. Gerwig does not shy away from the drama. The movie is a comedy, filled with great one-liners such as, “I haven’t told a lie in two years” and “I respect you too much to touch your boobs.” The movie is perfectly paced and exciting. There is never a dull moment. Because of Gerwig, the film is a great representation of the teenage spirit.

Metcalf is wonderful as Marion, Lady Bird’s mother. As a nurse in a psychiatric hospital, she tries to balance her demanding job with her even more demanding family. Metcalf is stunning in her role. With every character in the movie, they are complicated, and Metcalf takes her character’s complication and brings forth something everyone can undertand. The character, though sometimes an antagonist to her teenage daughter, is nuanced. The audience cannot help but empathize with her.

Two-time Academy Award nominee Ronan is a triumph. Although the actress is 23, she perfects the role of an almost 18-year-old girl. To start, her pink hair, acne scars and spot-on American accent make her fit the part. It is her acting, reactions, fights with her mother and relationships with friends that make her seem genuine. Ronan made the role so complex and interesting. Lady Bird is selfish, weird, and  somewhat imperfect, but Ronan is perfect in the role.

With the Oscars around the corner, “Lady Bird” is sure to grab a few nominations and maybe even wins. It is the only movie on Rotten Tomatoes to have the highest amount of positive reviews; it maintains a 100 percent on their website. The movie is a revelation.

Photo: from A24 via YouTube.com