Film: Little Women

GENRE: Drama Romance

RATING: PG for thematic elements and smoking (yes, smoking)
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 15 minutes

STARRING: Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird, Brooklyn, Atonement)

Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Florence Pugh (Black Widow)

DIRECTOR: Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)

WRITER: Gerwig (Lady Bird, Frances Ha)

PLOT: Four sisters come of age in America after the Civil War.        

FULL DISCLOSURE: Haven’t read the book or seen the 1994 version.

STORY STUFF: As I haven’t read the novel, I can’t tell you if it is a faithful adaptation. I believe there are some different scenes thrown in to add some more flavor to the story. The plot is well done and tells an entertaining tale about the March family. Gerwig’s non-linear adaptation does have it pros and cons. Pro is some mystery (at least for me). Con is that, at times, I was unsure why individuals (like the mom) are absent and for how long. Also, I felt less connected to Beth as we kept jumping in and out of her sickness. Overall, it was interesting and kept me engaged.

ACTING STUFF: I think what impressed me most was the chemistry between the four sisters. Their interactions seemed natural, especially when they would talk over each other and create a March whirlwind of chaos in the middle of a room. I enjoyed the supportiveness of Laura Dern (Marriage Story) in the mother role. Of course, the highlight is watching the incredible performances of Ronan and Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name); they are irresistible together and apart for that matter. Gerwig has a great acting troupe working for her.

ARTISTIC STUFF: Along with some beautiful score from Alexandre Desplat (Imitation Game), the cinematography from Hollywood newcomer Yorick Le Saux is eye-catching. The compositions on screen and some of the angles are wonderfully artistic. Fitting for a film about an artistic family.

VERDICT: Four stars out of five

SEE IT IF: You read the book or wish you had.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: Best of 2019