Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Writer Jo March tells the story of growing up with her three sisters in Civil War-era Massachusetts.
One of the best parts of "Little Women" (2019) is the acting. Every single person in this film gives a pitch-perfect performance. Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for best actress Oscar for playing Jo March, and we're so thrilled for her because she deserves it. Ronan is a brilliant actress, and she absolutely nails the part. Her presence on-screen is like a breath of fresh, rebellious air bursting forth with light and life and love. Florence Pugh also does a marvelous job as the spoiled, scampy, scrappy Amy. We're ecstatic that she was also nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress. We do have to mention that it was a little confusing to have Pugh play both the younger and older version of Amy. Even with pigtails, bangs, and a perfectly bratty performance, Pugh never really passes for someone much younger than her late teens. Eliza Scanlen and Emma Watson are also great as well. Also, please don't come for us, stans, but as much as we like Timothée Chalamet as an actor, we have to admit, we prefer Christian Bale's take on Laurie a bit more. As much as it pains me to include this in our review, BigJ felt like Laura Dern's performance as Marmee was "a little dry," and I'm still trying to get over this massive blow to the 15-year relationship I thought I knew so well, so we'll move swiftly along and please respect my privacy during this difficult time.
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| Emma Watson, Saoirse Ronan, and Florence Pugh star as Meg, Jo, and Amy March as they dress in costume for one of their plays in "Little Women" (2019). (Image Source) |
Louisa May Alcott's semi-autobiographical novel "Little Women" (2019) has been adapted into films almost as long as the pictures have existed. Harley Knoles made the first silent film version of the material in 1918, and now, just over 100 years later, it has seen its eighth adaptation, this time by "Lady Bird" director/scribe/indie darling Greta Gerwig. This story focuses on the March family as writer Jo March (Saoirse Ronan), a stand-in for Louisa May Alcott herself, tells the story of what it was like growing up in Civil War-era Concord, Massachusetts with her three sisters. Meg March (Emma Watson) is an aspiring actress, Amy (Florence Pugh) is an ambitious artist, and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) is a gifted pianist. They live with their mother, who they call Marmee (Laura Dern), who spends most of her time doing charity work while her husband (Bob Odenkirk) is off fighting in the Civil War. It also looks at the family's relationship with their neighbors, Theodore 'Laurie' Laurence (Timotheé Chalamet), and his grandfather Mr. Laurence (Chris Cooper), as well as Laurie's unrequited love for Jo.
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| Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) and Theodore Laurence (Timothée Chalamet) stare into each other's eyes on a rolling hillside in a movie still for "Little Women" (2019). (Image Source) |
With so many versions of "Little Women" (2019) available for consumption, one might wonder, do we really need another one? Or more appropriately, what can Greta Gerwig do to set her version apart from all the others? The answers are, 1) yes, and 2) a lot. Gerwig's "Little Women" (2019) does things a bit differently, and for the better. She tells her version of the story in a non-linear fashion and pairs emotionally significant moments in the early lives of the March sisters with ones that happen in their adulthood. Because of this directorial choice, we get to see more of the March sisters as adults and watch the struggles that come with being women in a male-dominated world where they are only considered useful as wives, mothers, caregivers, teachers, and a handful of other professions. The story opens with Jo as an adult selling her stories to an editor named Mr. Dashwood (Tracy Letts). This opening scene clues the audience in on just how difficult it is for her to follow her passion and make any sort of living by writing since she is a woman. Gerwig flawlessly ties the character of Jo to the real Louisa May Alcott several times throughout the film, even drawing attention to the fact that Alcott never actually got married in reality. Some viewers may not like the decision to make the story non-linear because they are so used to seeing this tale unfold in a certain way. BigJ felt like the jumps backward and forward made it a little difficult to fully grasp the time frame over which the story takes place. On the other hand, while I agree it wasn't an absolute necessity, I thought Gerwig's choice worked really for this updated, more modernized adaptation. The parallels between childhood and adulthood feel even more emotionally moving and impactful than they have in past versions of the story. For instance, more time with the older versions of the characters means we get to see an expanded look at, say, the relationship between Beth and Mr. Laurence (Chris Cooper). The scenes these characters share together are more powerful with a greater context and left me in tears every single time they occurred.
One of the best parts of "Little Women" (2019) is the acting. Every single person in this film gives a pitch-perfect performance. Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for best actress Oscar for playing Jo March, and we're so thrilled for her because she deserves it. Ronan is a brilliant actress, and she absolutely nails the part. Her presence on-screen is like a breath of fresh, rebellious air bursting forth with light and life and love. Florence Pugh also does a marvelous job as the spoiled, scampy, scrappy Amy. We're ecstatic that she was also nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress. We do have to mention that it was a little confusing to have Pugh play both the younger and older version of Amy. Even with pigtails, bangs, and a perfectly bratty performance, Pugh never really passes for someone much younger than her late teens. Eliza Scanlen and Emma Watson are also great as well. Also, please don't come for us, stans, but as much as we like Timothée Chalamet as an actor, we have to admit, we prefer Christian Bale's take on Laurie a bit more. As much as it pains me to include this in our review, BigJ felt like Laura Dern's performance as Marmee was "a little dry," and I'm still trying to get over this massive blow to the 15-year relationship I thought I knew so well, so we'll move swiftly along and please respect my privacy during this difficult time.
Finally, we have to discuss the aesthetic of "Little Women" (2019). We absolutely loved the costumes, the hairstyles, the luscious New England scenery, the wonderful production design, the cinematography...everything comes together effortlessly to make a stunning looking period piece! Gerwig manages to capture the era excellently while still making it feel a little bit contemporary. Alexandre Desplat's score for the film is vivacious, jaunty, and utterly fitting, one of the best of 2019.
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| In Greta Gerwig's "Little Women" (2019), the March sisters Meg, Amy, Jo, and Beth (Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Saoirse Ronan, and Eliza Scanlen) stand on the beach together with baskets for a picnic. (Image Source) |
Though some people might argue the need for another incarnation of "Little Women" (2019), we don't. It's a skillfully written, brilliantly directed, beautiful ode to sisterhood, growing up, and living your truth and your passion. Greta Gerwig has done an incredible job with this film, and it is a damn shame she wasn't commended for her expertly crafted directorial efforts.
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.2/10
RT Rating: 95%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!
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