The Milwaukee Post

18 • Milwaukee County Post • November 17, 2017 By TOM JOZWIK Post Film Critic While it's curious "Lady Bird" and "LBJ" are run- ning in movie theaters simultaneously, it's only "LBJ" that concerns a char- acter whose last name is Johnson. "Lady Bird" is the fiction- al story of Christine McPherson, who has appro- priated the nickname of our 36th president's wife. With typical drollery, Christine replies affirmatively when asked if Lady Bird is her given name. "I gave it to myself," she explains. "It's given to me by me." The movie represents a remarkable directorial debut for Greta Gerwig, best known as an actress ("Jackie," "20th Century Women"), who wrote the "Lady Bird" script in addi- tion to helming. The rookie has assembled quite a cast. Saoirse Ronan, the 23-year- old native New Yorker who was perfectly believable as an Irish lass in "Brooklyn," is entirely credible as the 17-year-old Californian title character here; Lucas Hedges plays her sometime boyfriend and Tracy Letts her father. I hesitate to say all three are acting against type, but Ronan was sweeter than pie in 2015's "Brooklyn" and isn't nearly as lovable here, Hedges was a snotty know-it-all in 2016's "Manchester by the Sea" but is conflicted and upolite in "Lady Bird" and, earlier this year, Letts' character could've used a slew of par- enting lessons in "The Lovers," whereas Letts' lat- est alter ego could be in the running for Father of the Year. All three prove more than convincing in their "Lady Bird" personas. Stage standouts Laurie Metcalf (who also won three Emmys for "Rose- anne") and Stephen McKinley Henderson (Bono in "Fences" on both Broadway and the big screen) winningly portray Lady Bird's mother and drama instructor. But my favorite character is Sister Sarah Jane, the Catholic high school teacher played by Lois Smith — an octoge- narian who's been acting professionally since Truman was in the White House. Sister can be some- thing of a stickler for rules and traditions (witness the antiquated habit she wears), but also a kindly ally whose enthusiasm for education has yet to wane. Lady Bird's Sacramento- located private school con- stitutes a captivating motif. Perhaps surprisingly in a comedic film whose pri- mary characters are not apparently religious (Lady Bird's been sent to the reli- gious school because it's safer than its public coun- terpart), Gerwig repeatedly rejects playing Catholic schooling for the easy laugh. Students are rever- ent and engaged at Mass (although outside the church the protagonist and a friend munch on "uncon- secrated" wafers intended for subsequent communion rites). Likable teachers appear to have their pupils' best interests at heart. A priest hits the nail on the head in addressing adoles- cent angst during a sermon ("We're afraid that we will never escape our past, we're afraid of what the future will bring, we're afraid we won't be loved, we won't be liked, we won't succeed"). Early on, Lady Bird — whose family is not particu- larly well-to-do — pops off to her mother on the subject of college plans. "I hate California," says the high school senior. "I want to go to the East Coast … where culture is." As the movie illustrates in more than one instance, however, the grass merely seems greener on the opposite side of the fence. "One of the themes of the film," Gerwig has stated, "is recognizing the riches of your life, understanding how much you have." The young lady on the cusp of adulthood, who at length returns to calling herself Christine, fortunately seems to be headed in that direction — if she isn't there already. ENTERTAINMENT Art A Road Traveled, through Dec. 14, University of W i s c o n s i n - M i l w a u k e e Student Union Art Gallery, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee. Opening recep- tion from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today; Artist talks at 7 p.m. today. The exhibition fea- tures photographic and technological processes. Jon Horvath's "Passages" comibines literature, GPS technology, and photogra- phy to navigate and map Jack Kerouc's "On the Road" in Wisconsin. Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman photographed locations geotagged in tweets across the nation. Joseph Mongel's work uses 19th-century processes, historical photographs and Google Maps to create new landscapes. unionart- gallery.uwm.edu or 414- 229-6310. The Waukesha Creative Arts League's Member Show, Dec. 1 to Dec. 22, Oconomowoc Arts Center, 614 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc. 262-560- 3172, theoac.net. Waukesha Art Crawl, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 2, downtown Waukesha. www.wauke- shaart.com/waukesha-art- crawl/ "Back to School," through Jan. 28, Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave., Milwaukee. Two exhibiting artists talk at 2 p.m. Dec. 2 (free for students, free with admission for others). "The Colony," a premiere per- formance by Kim Miller at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 (free for stu- dents, $5 suggested dona- tion). Hours: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 for students, seniors (62 and older) and veterans, and free for museum mem- bers, children 12 and younger, and active military. 414-278-8295 or villagterracemuseum.org. Modern Folk exhibit, through Dec. 10, Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee. MAM.org. Paintings, draw- ings and prints by Charles Demuth, Charles Sheeler and Max Weber are fea- tured alongside the muse- um's rarely seen Shaker fur- niture. "The Art of the Gift" holiday exhibit, through Dec. 31, Almont Gallery, 342 W. Main St., Waukesha. Wide range of fine arts and crafts by 19 local artists. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 262-542-1522 or gaffey@gmail.com. "The Seventh Day: Revisiting Shabbat," through Dec. 31, Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee. Thirty interna- tional artists explore the day of rest in a technology-driv- en world. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday (7 p.m. every third Thursday of the month), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday (closed Saturdays). For more infor- mation, jewishmuseummil- waukee.org or 414-390- 5730. The World Turned Upside Down: Apocalyptic Imagery in England, 1750- 1850, through Jan. 14, Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, 530 N. 13th St., Milwaukee. Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. mar- q u e t t e . edu/haggerty, 414-288- 1669. "Kirsten Leenaars: (Re)Housing the American Dream a Message from the Future," through Jan. 14, Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, 530 N. 13th St., Milwaukee. The Chicago video artist's video with 20 middle school stu- dents will screen at the m u s e u m . marquette.edu/hagger ty, 414-288-1669. Collection Spotlight: James Rosenquist, through Jan. 14, Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, 530 N. 13th St., Milwaukee. marquette.edu/hagger ty, 414-288-1669. Books Holiday and Children's Used Book Sale, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Milwaukee Public Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. Gently used adult and children's books, cookbooks, sheet music, comics, magazines, audio books and maps. Admission is free. Anodyne Coffee and other refreshments for pur- chase. All proceeds benefit the Milwaukee Public Library. Dance Milwaukee Ballet's "The Nutcracker Suite," Dec. 9 through Dec. 26, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. The traditional symphonic ballet by Peter Tchaikovsky. 414-273-7206 or www.marcuscenter.com. Film "The Snowman" family film with music by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee. $16 and up. 414-291-7605, mso.org. Health BloodCenter of Wisconsin's upcoming blood drives in Milwaukee County: ■ 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Alexian Brothers, 9225 N. 76th St., Milwaukee ■ 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, US Bank, 777 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee ■ 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 30, Aurora Healthcare, 3003 W. Good Hope Road, Milwaukee. Schedule an appointment: 1- 877-BE-A-HERO (1-877- 232-4376) or www.bcw.edu. Health Insurance Marketplace options, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and Nov. 30 at Milwaukee Public Library — Mitchell Street Branch, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St., Milwaukee, and 1 to 5 p.m. Friday, Zablocki Branch, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee. Health care navigators assist with the Affordable Care Act. Spanish-speaking naviga- tors available. Call 414-270- 4677 for an appointment. Walk-ins if navigator has no appointment. THE LIST THE LIST Star Saoirse Ronan, left, with director Greta Gerwig on the "Lady Bird" set. Photo by Merle Wallace, courtesy of A24 'Lady Bird' a remarkable directorial debut

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