Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by tunenut (A) on January 03, 2020 at 10:24:39

Visiting family on a holiday trip. My choice would have been Uncut Gems but the consensus choice was Little Women, which I somehow dreaded. Unfamiliar with the book or previous movie versions, I just expected a dull period romantic drama.

But the reviews have been great, and the reviews are right. This is not dull one bit, in fact, I was immersed fully so that the 2 hour 15 minute running time seemed to fly by.

At first, there was some confusion in my mind, as the story jumps back and forward in time. I figured out how it all worked. It is like a book with footnotes. As the story progresses, there are flashbacks in time that give perspective to the current situation. For example, seeing one of the daughters with her husband, the time jumps back to their first meeting. It's not a bad device and it does require a little thought from the viewer, which is not a bad thing.

But in general, all aspects are very well done. The New England countryside is beautifully shot. The acting is impeccable, and the lead sister is Jo, who I'm pretty sure will be at least nominated for big awards. The story is an epic covering some very emotional lows and highs, and it works, at least it did for me. The period dialogue is fine, probably some lifted directly from the book, although I am guessing. There is even a sort of modern meta aspect about the story, as the story represents its own genesis as a work of fiction.

All in all, a very fine night at the movies.