Movie of 2020: 1
Stars: 4
I love it when you go into a movie with middling expectations to be happily surprised. Greta Gerwig's Little Women did this in spades.
This is the third incarnation of Louisa May Alcott's famous book. It's also probably the best rounded of the three movies, taking a staggered look at this timeless novel.
For those who didn't read the book as a kid, the movie centres around the lives of the March Girls. Jo, (Soairse Ronan) a strong willed, feminist writer type, her older sister Meg (Emma Watson) a more traditional woman with stereoptypical dreams from the time. There is also Amy, (Florence Pugh) who's as artistic as she is selfish, and Beth (Eliza Scanlen), the quiet, musical, poorly one. The novel relates the girls's story as they navigate life at the very end of the American Civil War. Their father has been away fighting for the Yankees, their mother, Marmee (Laura Dern) goes off to look after him, leaving the girls alone fir a while. There are some trials and tribulations. All of the girls go through normal sisterly challenges, one or two end up married. One doesn't. The end.
What was really good about this film was the non-linear plot. Greta Gerwig has taken a classic, kept all of the elements, but told the story in a holistic way, jumping around in time, from when the girls were younger to later in the book when the girls have matured and gone on their own journeys, culminating with a major sickness of one of their ranks.
I won't spoil the plot if you haven't read it.
Not that you have to read the book to appreciate this film. The cast is great. Soairse Ronan is wonderful as the headstrong Jo. Emma Watson was an easy choice for Meg, the sensible older sister. Florence Pugh lights up the screen as the spoiled, petulant and artistic Amy and Eliza Scanlen very watchable as the tragic Beth.
Topping this off, Timothee Chalamet, man of the hour, plays Laurie, Jo's friend and paramour - and he too is wonderful. Then again, I'm yet to see Timothee Chalamet suck at anything. Meryl Street, Laura Dern, Chris Campbell and Bob Odenkirk round out the cast.
Set in Concord Massachusetts for the most part, it shows New England at its best. The sets and costumes are true to form. Having visited Louisa May Alcott's home in Concord, you can see the detail they have gone into getting the setting right.
Greta Gerwig's script and direction are spot on. I'd be surprised if she wasn't up for an Oscar in at least one of these categories. The one thing which Gerwig does well is bring some subtle feminism to the fore. To most, Little Women has themes of feminism through it. It's how this is shown on screen which is the film's greatest strength.
Definitely worth a look.
Today's Song:
Stars: 4
I love it when you go into a movie with middling expectations to be happily surprised. Greta Gerwig's Little Women did this in spades.
This is the third incarnation of Louisa May Alcott's famous book. It's also probably the best rounded of the three movies, taking a staggered look at this timeless novel.
For those who didn't read the book as a kid, the movie centres around the lives of the March Girls. Jo, (Soairse Ronan) a strong willed, feminist writer type, her older sister Meg (Emma Watson) a more traditional woman with stereoptypical dreams from the time. There is also Amy, (Florence Pugh) who's as artistic as she is selfish, and Beth (Eliza Scanlen), the quiet, musical, poorly one. The novel relates the girls's story as they navigate life at the very end of the American Civil War. Their father has been away fighting for the Yankees, their mother, Marmee (Laura Dern) goes off to look after him, leaving the girls alone fir a while. There are some trials and tribulations. All of the girls go through normal sisterly challenges, one or two end up married. One doesn't. The end.
What was really good about this film was the non-linear plot. Greta Gerwig has taken a classic, kept all of the elements, but told the story in a holistic way, jumping around in time, from when the girls were younger to later in the book when the girls have matured and gone on their own journeys, culminating with a major sickness of one of their ranks.
I won't spoil the plot if you haven't read it.
Not that you have to read the book to appreciate this film. The cast is great. Soairse Ronan is wonderful as the headstrong Jo. Emma Watson was an easy choice for Meg, the sensible older sister. Florence Pugh lights up the screen as the spoiled, petulant and artistic Amy and Eliza Scanlen very watchable as the tragic Beth.
Topping this off, Timothee Chalamet, man of the hour, plays Laurie, Jo's friend and paramour - and he too is wonderful. Then again, I'm yet to see Timothee Chalamet suck at anything. Meryl Street, Laura Dern, Chris Campbell and Bob Odenkirk round out the cast.
Set in Concord Massachusetts for the most part, it shows New England at its best. The sets and costumes are true to form. Having visited Louisa May Alcott's home in Concord, you can see the detail they have gone into getting the setting right.
Greta Gerwig's script and direction are spot on. I'd be surprised if she wasn't up for an Oscar in at least one of these categories. The one thing which Gerwig does well is bring some subtle feminism to the fore. To most, Little Women has themes of feminism through it. It's how this is shown on screen which is the film's greatest strength.
Definitely worth a look.
Today's Song:
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