Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘Lady Bird’ sneaks up on you
Anyone who came of age in suburbia will identify with Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a Sacramento high-schooler who, when she’s not pursuing relationships with two boys (Timothee Chalamet, Lucas Hedges), spends every waking minute plotting her escape to New York.
The heart of “Lady Bird” (2017, Lionsgate, R, $25) is the title character’s tempestuous relationship with her mother (Laurie Metcalfe), a hard-working woman aptly described as both “warm” and “scary.”
Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, “Lady Bird” is the kind of modest gem that sneaks up on you. It’s hilarious but it also yields an enormous emotional payoff. Extras: featurette and Gerwig commentary.
Also New to DVD
The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017, Universal, PG, $28): Based on a true story, this affable yuletide charmer focuses on author Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) after he’s had three flops in a row and is in dire need of cash. A chance encounter with a miser (Christopher Plummer) inspires Dickens to write “A Christmas Carol” which, in turn, prompts the writer to probe his own relationship with his impoverished father (Jonathan Pryce). It’s a delightful bit of holiday cheer that’s capable of warming your heart any time of the year. Extras: featurette. Aida’s Secrets (2017, Music
Box, unrated, $20): In this gripping documentary, two brothers who grew up on opposites sides of the world set out to solve the mystery of their childhood separation. Plenty of tearful family reunions are captured on camera but the core of the movie is what the brothers discover about their mother Aida, a mysterious figure who barely survived the Holocaust. “Aida’s Secret” is the rare documentary that plays out like a thriller, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the final frame. Extras: featurettes and commentary. Frank Serpico (2017, IFC, unrated, $25): Did you ever wonder what happened to the world’s most famous whistleblower after the release of “Serpico” in 1973? This documentary provides former police officer Frank Serpico, now in his 80s, with the opportunity to tell his story.