Mistress America is like a breath of fresh air. It's witty in a way that is not predictable (like most independent films). It's honest. Isn't that crazy that being honest makes it unique and unpredictable? We've become so far removed from ourselves...lost in the feeds and streams that bombard our screens. I think Baumbach's writing acts almost like a mirror; we're forced to face ourselves because he articulates what we think and often do not say out loud. He highlights the not so charming ways in which we obsess over our first role models (the "popular" kids), deal with insecurities, try to market ourselves in dishonest ways. That takes guts. No one wants to admit they've been a Tracy or Brooke - yet seeing their actions on screen make it almost okay. You leave the theater wanting to be more honest with yourself and others. I think that's a pretty awesome accomplishment for a film in 2015.