Director Noah Baumbach has had some sort of fascination with Greta Gerwig lately. While his previous film of 2015 didn't feature the actor, three of his last four directorial outings - including this one, Mistress America - have featured her in prominent roles. If you're one of the people who believe that Baumbach is trying desperately to copy Woody Allen, this certainly helps fit that narrative. Allen wasn't - and to some extent still isn't - exactly shy about focusing on one actress over the span of several films.
Set in New York - because he's copying Woody Allen, remember - Mistress America follows a college freshman, Tracy (Lola Kirke), who decides to form a friendship with her mother's fiancé’s daughter, Brooke (Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the screenplay), who is more worldly, eccentric, adventurous, and knowledgeable about things than she is. That's about the entirety of the plot. Most of the film sees Tracy and Brooke head to a location, make witty observations about where they are, and then move on. There are a couple of subplots, and the main trajectory sees Brooke trying to start a restaurant business and Tracy trying to write a short story to get herself into an exclusive school club, but far more of the film is concerned with …show more content…
Tracy wants to emulate Brooke - or perhaps is just using her for story ideas. Brooke wants the money and stability that her ex-fiancé and his new wife have. That wife wishes to be pregnant, and wouldn't you know it: a pregnant woman without any other purpose spends a significant time on-screen in the film's final third. Tracy befriends Tony (Matthew Shear), who envies her writing talent; his girlfriend, Nicolette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), gets angry at anyone who even talks to her boyfriend. The interplay between these characters is so much fun to watch. Some of these characters even get comeuppance for their
Set in New York - because he's copying Woody Allen, remember - Mistress America follows a college freshman, Tracy (Lola Kirke), who decides to form a friendship with her mother's fiancé’s daughter, Brooke (Greta Gerwig, who co-wrote the screenplay), who is more worldly, eccentric, adventurous, and knowledgeable about things than she is. That's about the entirety of the plot. Most of the film sees Tracy and Brooke head to a location, make witty observations about where they are, and then move on. There are a couple of subplots, and the main trajectory sees Brooke trying to start a restaurant business and Tracy trying to write a short story to get herself into an exclusive school club, but far more of the film is concerned with …show more content…
Tracy wants to emulate Brooke - or perhaps is just using her for story ideas. Brooke wants the money and stability that her ex-fiancé and his new wife have. That wife wishes to be pregnant, and wouldn't you know it: a pregnant woman without any other purpose spends a significant time on-screen in the film's final third. Tracy befriends Tony (Matthew Shear), who envies her writing talent; his girlfriend, Nicolette (Jasmine Cephas Jones), gets angry at anyone who even talks to her boyfriend. The interplay between these characters is so much fun to watch. Some of these characters even get comeuppance for their