Little Women (2019)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep
Directed by: Greta Gerwig
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Romance
2019

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The March sisters each work to establish themselves in the world and find their own paths through life.

Review:

Tim: I was a bit surprised to realize this was my first exposure to Little Women in any form. I'd never read the book, nor had I seen any of the previous versions of the movie. Suffice to say, I went into this without any preconceived notions or context. I really enjoyed Greta Gerwig's film. I don't quite think it was a great movie, but it gets close. It's absolutely a success.

I haven't seen Gerwig's directorial debut, but I really enjoyed Lady Bird. This is now two near-great movies she's directed in a row. That is very impressive. Gerwig assembles an all-star cast and focuses on the actors first for this film. The story is good, but it felt secondary to watching these incredibly talented actors working together. I really enjoyed this well-made film.

I've never been a big Saoirse Ronan fan. She's an accomplished actress, but just not someone I'd consider my favorite. I thought she was effective here. She's such a strong actress that she makes performances like this seem routine- of course, we'd expect this from Ronan. That says a great deal about her talent. Ronan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, deservedly. It was fun seeing Emma Watson here. I really like Watson. It's funny to reflect on this because Watson isn't nearly as strong as Ronan in this film, but I liked her more. It's important to try and parse out those biases whenever possible. Watson is good (not great) here, but as good as she is, it doesn't compare to Ronan's performance. I really believe that Florence Pugh is going to be a top tier talented actress at some point. She has incredible range- I really think she can do anything. She proved she can do horror in Midsommar and while not great, she was effective in a physically demanding role in Fighting With My Family. Here, she proves she can do straight drama and she's incredible enough to have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. I truly believe she can be one of the all-time greats.

Eliza Scanlen rounds out the March sisters and it felt like she was the least effective. Scanlen is good, no doubt about it, but get eclipsed by the better actresses. I enjoyed her performance, but it was obvious she was the fourth sister. The movie focuses more on the others. Now, Scanlen might not be as good as Ronan, Watson, or Pugh, but she has a few moments that just break your heart. She definitely has talent. It was fun seeing Laura Dern here- she's another incredible actress and gives a strong supporting performance. I always love seeing Bob Odenkirk and his small role makes the movie better. Timothee Chalamat is another stunning young talent. Like Pugh, I think he can be all-time great. He gives a heartfelt, memorable performance here. It was also excellent seeing Chris Cooper in a small role that allowed him to make an outsized impact on the film. You also have Meryl Streep here, who gives the expected strong performance. As I said, the cast is shockingly good.

The movie benefits from a strong script, written by Greta Gerwig. She was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Original Score. It won 1 Academy Award, for Best Costume Design, which was deserving- the costumes were excellent. It also received a nomination for Best Picture. By all accounts, Gerwig directs an especially strong film.

I enjoyed the movie. It's what you would expect from a coming-of-age story set in the mid-1800s. The movie has to do a good job of adapting the source material. While I haven't read it (yet), it felt very comfortable watching this movie, based on my experience of reading similar novels and seeing movies set in this time period. The women at the heart of the story have big challenges ahead of them. It's still very much a man's world and women were pushed to the margins. Each of the four women here tries to chart a course for themselves through the world around them. There's a big focus on love and relationships, as that was one of the few paths open to women at that time. There's some pushing against societal norms and these are great fun to watch. The women here are raised to be independent, strong, free thinkers. They are writers and actors, they take care of the less fortunate. They are bonded together by their familial ties, but also experience ups and downs, hopes realized, dreams lost. There's a myriad of different emotions. Gerwig's film always focuses first on the characters. This is good, but I wish the story felt a little more important. As I reflect on the movie now, my mind goes to the cast and their performances. To try and tell you the story of the March sisters would be a bit challenging. I can tell you about the look on Ronan's face when she sells her manuscript, or Watson's when she reconciles with her husband. I can describe Pugh's longing and Scanlen's reaction when she gets a piano of her own. The story itself always felt like it faded a bit into the background. It's a good thing to put the characters first, but if I had a complaint about the movie, it would be that the story itself doesn't quite rise to the same level of being memorable. When Gerwig is able to tell a powerful story that matches her ability to direct great talent, she will deliver her masterpiece. This is still an accomplished and successful film.

Little Women didn't quite make my list of the best films of 2019, but that takes nothing away from this incredibly strong movie. Gerwig directs an enjoyable, entertaining film. She assembles one of the best casts I've seen in recent years. I loved how many strong actresses came together here. You get to watch Ronan, Watson, Pugh, Scanlen, Dern, and Streep. Six wonderful actresses. You also get strong supporting performances from Chalamet, Cooper, and Odenkirk. If you like acting, this movie is absolutely worth seeing.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Little Women (1994), Lady Bird, Atonement, Mary Queen of Scots