Lady Bird

Genuine, heartfelt and Gretty, Lady Bird soars on updrafts of cool wit and warm sentimentality. Clever writing and perfectly nuanced performances keep this meandering slice of life from overflowing its banks. A misplaced bet on Hedges, family that never Letts go and a play-making drama teacher make the mundane wonderful.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

The violence, depth and moral ambiguity fit the McDonagh bill, and though the characters are astoundingly strong and fantastically flawed, the scripting is looser than Bruges, and the ending less inevitable. Occasional comedic moments stretch too far tonally, but the drama definitely delivers while McDormand and Rockwell, well… they rock.

Manchester By the Sea

You Can Maybe Count On Me marks Kenneth’s Longer-than necessary return to brooding slice of life dramas. Other Affleck’s emotionally choked character finds its best justification yet, and though Williams, Hedges and self-titled Chandler provide competent support, other appearances ring flat and false. Over all a well told quasi-redemption story.