This is the year of women. On the first quarter of 2020 alone, moviegoers are up for films starring powerful women. Starting with Birds of Prey, which was a great success for an all-female superhero group, and on March we’ll have the female-led Black Widow. But not every women have to wield a sword to show power. In Columbia Pictures’ Little Women, we’ll see that different types of women can make an impact as long as they put their heart and their soul into it. Bingers, here is our review of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the beloved novel by LA Alcott, Little Women.
Gerwig’s take on them much-loved novel is seventh time it has been adapted into film. The film stars some of the most-loved actresses today such as Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Meryl Streep, and Laura Dern. To many who are fans of the novel or the earlier adaptations, the excitement must have been high. As for me, who learned that it was an adaptation minutes before the press screening started, I came in with little to no expectation. Well, only that its director worked on Lady Bird which I adored wholeheartedly!
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The Feel of Sisterhood
Set post-Civil War, the biggest expectation is on the setting of the film. This includes the set design, costume, and the entire feel of it. In that department, Little Women succeeded! From the women’s daily outfit to their extravagant dresses, I was brought to the era in which it was set in. But that was just one of its many successes. The other success of Little Women is its story. I know, it is an adaptation of an existing material but still, a director always has the say on how the story should run. At the heart of it is women trying to find their ways in a man’s world and that when they uplift one another, they’ll find beauty and success. Not to take out the fact that it is a study of a family of four sisters who got one another’s backs. As the movie progressed, I start to see more of female director’s touch.
The emotions presented in the movie are raw and authentic. Much to its success came from the performances of the actresses. With such a powerful cast, nothing less can be expected from the movie. Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh, for me, stood out as Jo March and Amy March, respectively. Ronan’s Jo is an aspiring writer who finds solace in self-independence. Meanwhile, Pugh’s Amy is a painter who always stood under the shadows of her older sisters. At the center of their sister drama is their childhood friend, Laure played by Timothee Chalamet. Emma Watson’s Meg is the pretty sister of the family while Eliza Scanlen plays the timid musician Beth. The matriarch of the family is played by Laura Dern. Her portrayal of Mrs. March is an endearing sight while Streep’s role as a rich, old widow is nothing but hilarious.
Little Women showed a hilarious and heartbreaking tale of sisterhood. The dynamic between the siblings felt authentic giving the movie a more realistic vibe. The strong performances from the cast was such a delight that had me thinking it deserved all the accolades. Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is funny, exciting, and sad. It made me feel all sorts of emotions while watching it but overall it felt like receiving a warm hug from a loved one.
Director: Greta Gerwig
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet
Binge-level: 5 out of 5 stars
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