Tag Archives: Greta Gerwig

Review: Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird for Film Comment

My Film Comment review (in print and online) of Greta Gerwig’s absolutely wonderful film (her debut as a writer/director, at least flying solo) Lady Bird, starring Saoirse Ronan as an awkward and fearless teenager, gropingly “coming of age” in Sacramento … Continue reading

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October 2017 Viewing Diary

11:55 (2016; d. Ari Issler, Ben Snyder) A Marine returns from the war in Iraq and gets sucked back into the criminal element in his old neighborhood, even as his sister, his girlfriend, his niece, plead with him to avoid … Continue reading

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Review: 20th Century Women (2016)

I’ve seen it twice now. I think it’s amazing. I liked Beginners (Mills’ first film, about his father coming out of the closet at the age of 75: Christopher Plummer won the Oscar) – but 20th Century Women – about … Continue reading

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Performances I Loved This Year

I still haven’t seen a couple of big ones. Hence … it’s a work in progress, and I’m sure I’m forgetting people. But these stand out. Royalty Hightower, “The Fits” [My review] Matthias Schoenaerts, “A Bigger Splash” Cliff Curtis, “The … Continue reading

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December 2015 Viewing Diary

Christmas, Again (2015; d. Charles Poekel) So good. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. Back Street (1932; John M. Stahl) Back Street is the story of a woman who allows herself to be a “back street” woman: a long-time mistress to a … Continue reading

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Year in Review: Running my mouth in 2013

Some of the things I’ve written in 2013, for my own site, and also other outlets. Thoughts on Memphis. “Memphis is wounded, and Memphis is obviously depressed. There are a lot of sad ghosts here. But Memphis does not forget. … Continue reading

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“I’m so embarrassed. I’m not a real person yet.” – Frances Ha (2013)

One of my favorite movies of the year. I am filled with a sense of gratitude that it even exists. It gets everything right. That was my life. That was how I lived. That is what it looks like to … Continue reading

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