Barbarella Loves Greta Gerwig's Fresh Take on LITTLE WOMEN
When
I heard that there would be another LITTLE WOMEN movie, I could not
have been less interested. I’ve already seen one, so I
already know the story. How much could it change to make
me need to see it again? It’s not like new technology
would impact this film, as it doesn’t have any crazy special
effects. Yet, I should have known that Greta Gerwig would
do things differently, perhaps making them more personal, and create
something that needs to be seen. Her unique approach to
Louisa May Alcott’s story makes a world of difference. It’s
a delightful film covering a gamut of emotions. I walked
out of the theater afterwards feeling invigorated, which hasn’t
happened a whole lot lately.
For
those who haven’t seen any of the LITTLE WOMEN films or read the
novel, the basic idea is that there are four sisters trying to
determine their places in the world. I should also tell
you I’m going to compare elements to the 1994 version, but don’t
worry. I will do so without spoilers.
Greta
Gerwig, who gifted us with FRANCIS HA and LADY BIRD gives us a
version of LITTLE WOMEN with a far more emotional wallop than the
previous incarnation starring Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, and Susan
Sarandon. Even though the film takes place at the end of
the Civil War, the characters feel relatable. This is
sometimes difficult to achieve in period films, as characters from
the past tend to have an entirely different aura about them. I
appreciate that the March family could easily be plopped into today’s
world and probably make friends very quickly, after learning how to
use Snap Chat and Instagram, of course.
Having
the right cast in a film of this nature proves paramount to its
success. The casting here is flawless. Saoirse
Ronan effortlessly assumes the personality of Jo March, a young woman
struggling to become a writer in a male-dominated field. This
is my favorite performance of hers to date, but I expect she’ll
continue to impress me as she progresses towards
superstardom. Eventually, I hope to be able to spell
her name without having to look it up and recheck three or four times
to make sure I’ve done it correctly.
While
all the other performances are great, only a few truly stand out for
me. Meryl Streep as the opinionated Aunt March delights me
considerably with her perfect amount of snark. Laura Dern
beautifully evinces Marmee March’s compassion, and Timothée
Chalamet carries a seemingly natural, devilish charm, making him
particularly suitable for Laurie. The additional focus on
one character, Mr. Dashwood (Tracy Letts) surprises me. It
provides a whole deeper insight into a person who feels mostly
insignificant in the 1994 film version. This new
element adds substantially to the film’s overall impact, and I love
everything about Tracy Letts’ performance here.
Adding
more of Mr. Dashwood isn’t the only adjustment to the
film. Several inclusions provide additional suspense and
drama. Adding dialogue in one scene, removing it from
another, or changing who says what amplifies far more than I would
have expected. I appreciate every change made except
one. While I understand the motivation behind the change,
it just feels flat and phony. I wanted something
completely different with Friedrich, and I find a moment that could
have been heartwarming to be rather off-putting.
Aside
from that minor misstep, LITTLE WOMEN is delightful. Opening on
Christmas Day, it’s the perfect choice for a holiday film. You
don't really want to have to talk to your family, do you? Instead
of trying to avoid family drama this Christmas, you and your family
could go watch other people (played by a slew of young, talented
actors) deal with their family drama and their own ambitions.
If you think you know what to expect from LITTLE WOMEN because you've
watched another version, you don't. Not really. Greta
Gerwig paints the picture with her fresh perspective, and that's
certainly something worth seeing.
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