Review: Little Women
Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig, tells the tale of four sisters, Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florance Pugh), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen), living together with their own dreams and aspirations under the care of their mother Marmee (Laura Dern). But as they grow older and their lives start to change drastically, the four must choose between their own dreams or a more simpler life as a wife to a loving man.
This is the latest of many adaptations of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott and the latest project from Greta Gerwig who directed 2017’s Lady Bird. Lady Bird was a very likable movie and made me see Gerwig as a director to keep an eye on. For her sophomore feature Gerwig manages to recapture, maybe even top, the same likability of Lady Bird by giving this classic story a more contemporary feel. This version of Little Women was a lot better than I expected and is one of the nicest surprises I’ve seen in 2019.
At this point I think it’s safe to assume a lot of people know about the Little Women story. It’s a reading requirement at school and there have been four film adaptations prior to this one (six if you count the lost silent films). I haven’t seen all the adaptations but from what I could gauge this one feels the most unique. The writing is one of my favorite of 2019; the dialogue fits the period the film’s set in, yet it feels incredibly modern. You also get a deeper sense of the characters and how they feel through carefully provided scenes and exposition.
Part of what also make these characters likable and relatable is the actors who portray them. Every actor in this film plays their respective characters perfectly. Saorise Ronan was great as the rebellious Jo, Emma Watson gives a surprisingly nuanced portrayal of the well mannered Meg, Eliza Scanlen was great as the timid Beth, and Florance Pugh gives one of my favorite performances of the year as the artistic Amy. The girls’ chemistry together feel genuine; every emotion feels real and the chaotic energy they all produce make them look like actual sisters.
Timothée Chalamet is also in the film and gives a fantastic performance as usual, Laura Dern was great here as well, Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep, and the rest of the cast was great in their respective roles. The music from Alexandre Desplat was great, the cinematography and editing was purposeful, Gerwig’s direction was on point, the set pieces were intricately designed, there was just plenty to love about this adaptation of the classic story.
Couple issues hold this film back from being phenomenal, however, one of them being the pacing. There were many moments in the film that dragged on longer then they should have; had the film been about ten or fifteen minutes shorter this would’ve been an amazing film. The time skips in this film were also pretty confusing throughout the film. The actors look pretty much the same in every scene, so when the film goes back and forth showcasing the Marsh sisters as either young girls or working adults it makes it hard to be convinced that they’re one or the other.
Overall I quite enjoyed this rendition of Little Women, more than I thought I would. Gerwig has succeeded in staying faithful to the source material while at the same time giving the source material a more contemporary and modern feel. This is a film that the whole family can actually enjoy, and it’s hard to imagine anyone that’s turned off by this film unless they’re a hardcore traditionalist when it comes to the story. This was one of the more memorable films of 2019 and I’m glad it got a wide release for everyone to see. Check it out and see for yourself.
Final Verdict: 8/10