‘I’m so impressed by you and so worried for you at the same time...’
Noah Baumbach is a director that I have always kind of admired from a distance. I’ve written before about how difficult I find it to relate to his movies, given as his characters are normally rich artists that live in New York. As a result of this, I often appreciate the craft of his films rather than actively enjoying them. This was even true of Marriage Story – Baumbach’s most accomplished work to date. Was Mistress America to be the film that finally spoke to me?
Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a shy and lonely freshman attempting to navigate her first years at college. Her life is changed forever when she spends a tempestuous weekend with her step sister-to-be Brooke (Greta Gerwig) – a flighty and adventurous wannabe restaurateur.
A simple story then but one that is brought to life by an impressive performance from Kirke and an unforgettable one from Gerwig. The latter is finally receiving the credit she deserves for her work on Lady Bird and Little Women, and she shares a co-writing credit with Baumbach here. Gerwig is always an iridescent onscreen presence, and her performance as a larger-than-life semi-delusional lunatic is an utter joy here. The extended scene that takes place in the house of a budding investor for her weird restaurant/hair dressers/performance space thing is truly a thing of beauty.
And yes, for the first time in all my years of watching Baumbach movies, I finally connected to this one. Everyone knows someone like Brooke. A dreamer enjoying and enduring an extended arrested development. Indeed, I fear that I have been that myself on occasion. Mistress America is as close to mumblecore as Baumbach has ever ventured and the result is probably his most downright enjoyable film. I loved it.