Little Women (2019)

Set during the Civil War and shortly after, the lives of the March sisters: the feisty and independent Jo (Saoirse Ronan), the sensible down to earth Meg (Emma Watson), the self centered Amy (Florence Pugh) and the fragile Beth (Eliza Scanlen). Based on the beloved classic by Louisa May Alcott and directed by Greta Gerwig (LADY BIRD). Did we really need yet another version of LITTLE WOMEN? Probably not but if there's a book that is practically fool proof in its various incarnations on film and stage, it's LITTLE WOMEN. I have seen many versions and while they vary in quality, none of them are bad. Gerwig's take on the Alcott classic is refreshing. I'm not sure Alcott would have approved but Gerwig has given us a LITTLE WOMEN for the 21st century without betraying Alcott's source material. Done in a non linear fashion, she's given it a feminist bent along with some tweaking. Notably, giving Amy (who's usually played as a ditzy flirt) a backbone and some spirit. Perfect performances right down the line and yet another winning score by Alexandre Desplat. With Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet, Chris Cooper, Tracy Letts and James Norton.