Of all the oldest franchises in Hollywood, I would say Little Women would be certainly one of them spanning from 1918. There have been aplenty including "Little Women" 1918, 1933, 1949, 1978, 1994, 2017 and 2018. It's timeless and incredibly easy to watch. One would think, how could another installment be interesting? Answer? Those who have not seen Greta Gerwig's translation.
Writer-director Greta Gerwig has crafted a Little Women that draws on both the classic novel and the writings of Louisa May Alcott, and unfolds as the author's alter ego, Jo March, reflects back and forth on her fictional life. In Gerwig's take, the beloved story of the March sisters--four young women each determined to live on her own terms--is both timeless and timely. The sister's, Jo (Saoirse Ronan), Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh) and Beth (Eliza Scanlen), involves their widely different rights of passage as far as profession and loves in their lives, all the while being reared by their long-suffering mother, Marmee (Laura Dern), while their father (Bob Odenkirk) is in the Union Army during the Civil War. A flirtatious neighbor, Theodore 'Laurie' Lawrence (Timothee Chalamet) and his grandfather (Chris Cooper) reside next door, whereas Laurie is constantly wooing one the sisters. Then there is their spinster, cynical aunt (Meryl Streep) who attempts to guide these sisters to a hopeless end.
Others to round out the cast are Tracy Letts as Mr. Dashwood, James Norton as John Brooke, Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer and Jayne Houdyshelly as Hannah.
This was wittingly directed by Greta Gerwig ("Nights and Weekends" '08, "Lady Bird" '17). As this filmmaker has blossomed, she has amazingly grown in her field not only as a writer but as a director. She acted for years--not all great films, but with this knows what it's like when directing her actors in an empathetic way. This certainly gives her a leg up as a talented filmmaker. These characters simply jumped off the screen. It would be easy for many people to relate to many characters in this even though the period of the film is the Civil War era. She was able combine a contemporary way about this with a traditional way and succeeded. It was equally well written by Gerwig ("Hannah Takes the Stairs" '07, "Nights and Weekends" '08, "Northern Comfort" '10, "Frances Ha" '12, "How I Met Your Dad" (TV movie) '14, "Mistress America" '15, "Lady Bird" '17) plus TV and a short. As I've mentioned above, Gerwig certainly knows about how to structure a film as far as directing and even more with writing. She clearly gave her audience a contemporary insight of this writer, Jo all the while being the beloved classic we've all cared about by Louisa May Alcott. Other than a couple of very small places of going from one period in their lives to another which was a bit different to know which we were in, this storyline soared. This has got to be one of the best (writing and directing) of any installment of this franchise. It was concise, cohesive and tight. She could be nominated come Oscar time along with Ronan and possibly Chalamet. If you like and respect her style, her "Barbie" has been announced.
If this franchise is a perennial favorite for you, this will certainly appeal. It is a creative approach to a tried and true beloved classic novel we've all grown up with. It is so nice to see, an otherwise, older story and turn it into a fresh, original screenplay for all to love all over again.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG 135mins.
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