Little Women
Winona Ryder, Christian Bale, Susan Sarandon; Directed by Gillian Armstrong
The March family has fallen on hard times. They struggle to maintain a decent level of normalcy and comfort as the effects of the ongoing American Civil War threaten to dominate their lives. Mr. March is serving with the Union Army, and the wife and four daughters he has left at home worry daily for his health and safety. Mrs. March (or Marmee, as the girls call her) is a sagacious and loving mother whose steady voice of reason keeps life generally stable in the midst of all serious and trivial chaos that comes with living in a house with four growing girls. Meg, the oldest daughter, is suffering under the pressure of being expected to marry a wealthy man, so that she may bring financial stability to the household. Jo, the next oldest, is a fiercely independent spirit with a wild creative streak which flows out of her through an intense passion for writing. Beth is a shy, but deeply kind and gentle soul, whose generous and loving nature serves as a refreshing ray of purity and light to the lives of those around her. Amy, the youngest, is a vain, but well-intentioned girl who longs for the admiration of fashionable society. Told over the span of several years, the girls must draw strength from one another to endure the pangs of love, the pain of disappointment, the twists of life, new birth, wavering faith, and unexpected death.
This popular and much beloved story by Louisa May Alcott has the fortunate distinction of having a film adaptation that both audiences and critics have praised. Never corny, never smug or saccharine, Gillian Armstrong’s interpretation is a wonderfully earnest and intense dramatization that earns points for every factor. Everything from the casting to the costuming is a success. The story is centered mainly around Jo, portrayed here by Winona Ryder, who garnered an Academy Award nomination for her energetic and genuine performance. Trini Alvarado, Claire Danes, and Kirsten Dunst slip easily into the roles of Meg, Beth, and Amy. Susan Sarandon as Mrs. March rounds out the family terrifically well. A number of men also come to play into the lives of our heroines, and so the film also gets to be blessed by the presence of such talents as Christian Bale, Eric Stoltz, and Gabriel Byrne. The pacing never drags, and the momentum of the story never loses its’ way, even when the girls find themselves eventually parting ways. As I myself happen to be one of four sisters in a family of six, this story goes straight through my heart every single time I watch it. It is a rare realistic glimpse into the life of a normal, middle class family. It is not a melodramatic soap opera, nor a film that seeks to revel in the exploitation of absurd dysfunction. I also must give a warning to anyone in the possession of an emotional heart (and I hope, to a rational extent, that everyone is included here); Claire Danes’ performance in her most significant scene in the film is guaranteed to draw any and everything from misty eyes, to a waterfall of unabashed sobbing. Have Kleenex handy. Yes, guys, you too. Trust me.
Now there have been other film adaptations of this tale, most notably the version which has Katherine Hepburn starring as Jo. But it has the unfortunate tendency to inject very silly comedy into certain characters and situations that detract from the experience as a whole. It is far less superior, and I would definitely have to recommend this version any day over that one. I also hope that guys are not put off by the fact that the main cast consists mostly of women, because that would be quite a shallow reason to ignore such a magnificent story brought to such great justice here. Be sure to check the book out as well!
Grading:
Story = A
Originality = A
DVD Features = N/A
Acting = A
Enjoyability = A-
Visuals = A-
Overall = A
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