SMR 275: Little Women

3 Comments

1. 

   SANDLERAGONY

   01/13/2020 at 5:41 PM

   Violently white & milquetoast as it was, I did enjoy Little Women. The acting from Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh & Eliza Scanlen was top-notch. Even from other actors, like Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern, Meryl Streep & Bob Odenkirk. Most of the scenes are well-structured & well done. I will say, having seen this, I can’t wait to give Lady Bird another shot. I felt like I was wrong to it, years ago. Greta Gerwig is definitely a good director & has good stories to put on display for the big-screen. Not one of my favorites, since it’s a bit too long & can wear out its welcome, I still enjoyed it, nonetheless.

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2. 

   brooklynshoebabe

   12/28/2019 at 11:57 AM

   “Violently White.”

   Dear Rod and Justin,OMG! When you called Little Women violently white, I damn near fell on the subway platform on my way to work. But, you ain’t lying. Not only was the movie violently white, but the theater I saw it in was also violently white. I was the only black woman in the audience. But I digress.

   Little Women was too long and a bit boring in the middle too me, like hurry this shit up, but I had also just recently read the book as a 47 year old black woman. I thoroughly enjoyed the book because through the sweetness and the minutiae of their daily lives, it was a subversively feminist book about how little agency women really had and I think the movie really heavy handedly pointed that out. (I was not mad at that.) 
   Little Women is semi-autobiographical although Louisa May Alcott and her family were much more radical than they are portrayed in the book or in film. Louisa was an abolitionist, never married, and hated writing the Little Women books but only did it because they sold. She preferred writing her spy and revenge stories. She was a nurse for the union during the civil war and wrote for a Boston anti-slavery newspaper. So, yes, these “53%” that love Little Women are certainly not their ancestors. LMAO.

   I had never seen any other version of Little Women because it was “violently white,” but I saw this one on the strength of Saoirse Ronan (Saoirse is pronounced roughly Sir-sha. It is a Celtic name) and Timothee Chalamet, because I think they both have wonderful on screen chemistry but it was Florence Pugh who stole the show as Amy and I loved her in it. In the book, she is spoiled but in the movie she plays the hand she is dealt. 

   Laurie is supposed to be an indolent fop and fops are usually coded as gay in movies. Greta Gerwig has been reported as saying that she cast Saoirse and Timothee to play around with gender perception because Saoirse is a square-jawed handsome woman and Timothee is a smooth faced pretty man. (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/06/exclusive-first-look-greta-gerwig-and-saoirse-ronan-little-women)

   So, about the appeal of Timothee Chalamet…I know I am old enough to be his mother but I do find him attractive like a beautiful piece of art I could look at all day. Recently, I’ve been reading articles about the appeal of Timothee and Harry Styles (formerly of One Direction). They are modern examples of masculinity that isn’t toxic, aggressively cis heterosexual male, and that feels comfortable embracing the feminine (whether it be praising the positive influence of their mothers and sisters or wearing flouncy blouses). They are the opposite of the men who are in power particularly in the United States and in England. 

   In short, I give Little Women 3.5 stars. I don’t think it deserves all the award praise that’s been heaped upon it. I didn’t like LadyBird but I think it was a better movie in it’s originality and complexity of characters. I am sorry for the long ass email. This is what happens when a feminist and a librarian gets a hold of a feminist movie based on a book. LMAO.

   Have a happy new year!

   Sincerely,BrooklynShoeBabe

   P.S.: The movie and book takes place in Concord, Mass. 

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   • 

     Peaches749

     12/30/2019 at 7:59 AM

     Hey Y’all, Thank you for reviewing this movie. I may actually watch it now
     I read Little Women when I was younger and I did love it. The books made me cry and laugh and think. Thanks again Rod and Justin y’all keep me laughing out loud

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