The characters of Little women are like the Spice Girls, everyone has a favorite among the four so very different sister, but we love them as a group as well. I did read the books, all three of them and rather enjoyed them. I never saw any previous adaptation of the book so I was really looking forward to watching this one. I just didn't get a chance to watch it in theaters because I never got the time. I wish I did, this is an amazing movie. It should have been a serious Oscar contender when it wasn't.
The story is still the same story of the four very different sisters. Saoirse Ronan plays the high spirited, wishes she was a boy, but is a very talented author - Jo March. Emma Watson plays the brilliant actress who choose to have a family - Meg March, Florence Pugh (who was also nominated for an Oscar for an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in this movie) plays the amazing painter and delicate socialite - Amy March, and Eliza Scanlen plays the talented pianist and generous and delicate in spirit – Beth March. Laura Dern plays Marmee March, Bob Odenkirk plays Father March, James Norton plays John Brooke, Louis Garrel plays Friedrich Bhaer (who was significantly aged down for the movie) and the most handsome addition to the movie is Timothée Chalamet as the free spirited, lost but rich Laurie. And one incredible Meryl Streep as Aunt March.
Greta Gerwig deserves a lot more praise for this movie. It is brilliant. In this adaptation the story isn't told linearly. The past and the present of the girls is intertwined which creates a much more emotional and powerful effect. I never really liked the Beth storyline in the book, but here I really felt it. The story, the relationships between the sisters and their loved ones just becomes more powerful through this way of telling the story.
The story follow the four March sisters from late adolescences to adulthood. While the father of the family is off to try and help during the American Civil War and mother tries to help everyone she can and the sisters are full of hope for the future. Jo wishes she was a boy so she could join the army and her father. She has dreams of being an author and supporting her family and never getting married. Beth is so shy and gentle despite her talent for playing the piano and helping others, she tries not to standout. Meg, despite her talent in acting, wants to marry and have a family and nice things. And Amy wants to be a genius painter. Their new neighbor Laurie brings a breath of fresh air into their lives. Together they grow-up and reconcile their dreams with the reality of their lives. It is an old story, but some of it still holds true until this day.
As you can imagine from the list of actors, the acting is pretty good throughout the movie. Despite the changes to the character. But the stand out is obviously the one with the best part which is Saoirse Ronan as Jo. Someone give this woman an Oscar already. She already had four nominations and she should have won already, obviously she was nominated for her role here as well. Her Jo is just how I imagined Jo would be like. Full of fire and spite and yet gentle and loving. Brilliant. Although, I wasn't thrilled about her ending in the book, so I wasn't thrilled about it in the movie as well. Meryl Streep is obviously legendary. Everyone else also did a good job, but just like the books seem to focus more on Jo, Saoirse Ronan gets the most to do.
This is not a faithful adaption of Louisa May Alcott's book. I know a lot of people were disappointed about that. But, you should totally watch this movie and it give it a chance on its own. Forget the old fashions setting and let the story pull you in. I cried so much. It was just a wonderful movie.
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