Little Women

Ten Second Review: Moving, engaging and full of chemistry, Little Women will certainly draw praise for its powerful acting.

I’ve tried reading Little Women, twice in fact, but I couldn’t seem to sink into it the way that you might want to in a book. My great fear with this film was that I would have a similar experience and given the hype and praise that have come its way, I would only be further put off.

Tossing back and forth between past and present, the film looks at the journeys and relationships of the March sisters. With a slight focus on Jo and Amy’s lives and interactions, we see the development of the family and of the women’s hopes and dreams. 

To be perfectly honest for the first portion of this film I thought I might have the same problem as the book. I wasn’t properly engaged and I couldn’t seem to find footing to enjoy it. Gladly this didn’t last and not too long in I was hooked. The interactions felt real, the story felt important and the analysis (as it has for over a hundred years) felt timely and poignantly nuanced.

While the core story remains great, the thing that sells it is the acting talent on show. Between Laura Dern, Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh you’re absolutely spoilt for talent and the emotional connections and chemistry of the characters is a marvel. When those two sisters fight it feels like they’ve been doing it for years and you’re just catching glimpses of it in the film.

I will say that you couldn’t call the film flawless by any stretch. Casting choices like Emma Watson really weaken the overall film and if new scenes are to be injected then even a short scene featuring Beth, the youngest March sister, interacting with Mr Laurence would have fleshed our her character a great deal. I wouldn’t say the direction was continually phenomenal and while certain moments could be picked out, it wasn’t a shining characteristic of the film. That being said, I still greatly enjoyed it and that is testament to the story and the bulk of its acting. 

Certainly engaging and certainly rewatchable, Little Women gives its audience a well made adaptation that is sure to move people. With interesting notes for our current time and some of the best chemistry on screen this year, it’s definitely worth seeing. I would particularly recommend it if it’s not your regular watch. Those expecting to like it by and large will, but those uninterested in it still may find something enjoyable to watch.