Take Your Daughter to the Movies Day

Well, I don't have a daughter, but I still went to see "Little Women."  And I lived to talk about it.

Okay, first off, I have never been exposed to the Louisa May Alcott book.   I would argue that not a single boy has ever read it.   I mean, why would they?  And, despite the fact that there have already been three screen adaptations of the book, I might have seen about ten minutes of the one with Elizabeth Taylor about fifteen years ago on TCM.

This is all to say that "Little Women" was pretty new territory for me.  And, as this fourth cinematic iteration, I was in the capable hands of writer and director Greta Gerwig.  I'm pretty sure I got the full "Little Women" treatment thanks to her.

Gerwig is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Movieland.  Her previous work with "Lady Bird" was astounding and she goes to the well a second time here by casting "Lady Bird" star Saoirse Ronan as the main March sister, Jo.  Ronan is definitely headed to the Oscar ceremonies again for her work in "Little Women."

Alcott's novel is set in the 1860s and brings us the adventures, trials, and tribulations of the four March sisters and their Marmee as they await their dad's return from the Civil War.  As ancient as that sounds, Gerwig somehow manages to make it all feel contemporary.  There is an underlying theme of girl empowerment that connects the plot points of the story as Jo works to become a writer.  And, while there are boys in the tale, they are surely secondary characters.  

Indeed, Gerwig's production design team was remarkable as they conveyed a New England landscape that looked both beautiful and dingy at the same time.  It is all well cast as well with particularly good performances from the likes of Laura Dern (how reliable has she become?), Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Letts, and the always-managing-to-get-work Meryl Streep.

But, when it's all said and done, this is still Louisa May Alcott's story.  And it's one that Greta Gerwig must have gotten a book report A+ on back in the eighth grade.  She clearly loved the novel because she has crafted a screen adaptation with tender love and care.  She should have won the Oscar for screenplay.  Heck, she should have been nominated for the Directing Oscar.

LEN'S RATING:  Three-and-a-half stars.

Dinner last night:  Barbecue chopped salad with bacon.