Read Mixed User Reviews for Little Women (2019)

5

Brent_MarchantJan 4, 2020

A picture that prides itself on its fine performances and excellent period piece production design alone is not enough to elevate said release to cinematic greatness. So it is with director Greta Gerwig's new film adaptation of the classicA picture that prides itself on its fine performances and excellent period piece production design alone is not enough to elevate said release to cinematic greatness. So it is with director Greta Gerwig's new film adaptation of the classic novel "Little Women," a self-congratulatory offering that might look nice but rings inauthentic and tedious in many regards. This is particularly true for its almost-laughable screenplay, whose contemporary dialogue doesn't even begin to adequately suit the film's 19th Century setting. The nonlinear storytelling approach often doesn't work, either, given that there are few recognizable distinctions to separate different time frames from one another. And, while many of the portrayals are solid -- Florence Pugh, Laura Dern, Timothee Chalamet and Meryl Streep -- one can't help but cringe at the overwrought, award-baiting performance of Saoirse Ronan, whose mugging for the camera becomes tiresome quickly. For all its hype, "Little Women," unfortunately, leaves viewers with little to like.… Expand

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

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5

BHBarryDec 28, 2019

“Little Women” was written and directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, Emma Watson and a very forgettable total of 5 minutes of Meryl Streep.
Based on Louisa Mae Alcott’s novel the film does an injustice to the audience“Little Women” was written and directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Saoirse Ronan, Laura Dern, Emma Watson and a very forgettable total of 5 minutes of Meryl Streep.
Based on Louisa Mae Alcott’s novel the film does an injustice to the audience to which it is being exhibited. The large sums the producers spent on promoting the film would have been better utilized in the hiring of a strong editor and an additional writer for the movie is in dire need of a better script and better editing. The scenes depicting the characters and the years in which the events in their lives take place go back and forth so many times that the viewer has to rely upon the hairdos of the sisters in order to try to determine the proper chronology. Casting here is also subject to criticism since Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”) does not fit the image of the father of the girls nor does Chris Cooper (with enough makeup on to make a teenager look like Methusaleh) make a credible elderly neighbor. Both roles would have been better played by lesser known actors with no prominent identification problems.
I give the film a 5.0 rating with a special reward to the Public Relations person since he or she did a better job of hyping the film than did its writer-director in making it.… Expand

11 of 18 users found this helpful117

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6

mjnagelJan 10, 2020

This movie was an okay time waster. It’s incredibly mediocre and not worthy of the praise it seems to be receiving. I went because of the high critic reviews. The only reason it has such good critic reviews is because of the politicalThis movie was an okay time waster. It’s incredibly mediocre and not worthy of the praise it seems to be receiving. I went because of the high critic reviews. The only reason it has such good critic reviews is because of the political messaging. The plot was boring. I should’ve known I not to trust critic reviews.… Expand

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

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4

TerminalyStokeDec 26, 2019

Light and pleasant overall. The movie chooses to jump back and forth in time which isn't too difficult to keep track of, but makes the story feel disjointed. Performances were fine but the characters were uninspiring chaotic and over the topLight and pleasant overall. The movie chooses to jump back and forth in time which isn't too difficult to keep track of, but makes the story feel disjointed. Performances were fine but the characters were uninspiring chaotic and over the top at time. Marmie and Amy in my opinion we're the best played, whilst Emma Watson as Meg was forgettable and awkward.… Expand

10 of 17 users found this helpful107

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4

Bill_NyeJan 7, 2020

This movie expects you to have background knowledge the book’s story. No date for the period of time the film took place was shown and no “6 month’s later” either.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

CPNJan 30, 2020

Bland rendering of this novel. At times felt like an 80s TV movie. Sickly sweet even down to the production design. I would have loved to have seen a much bolder darker version from this director

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

JLuis_001Dec 28, 2019

Opinions are opinions. Subjective or objective, but I find quite interesting the positive response the second feature film by Greta Gerwig has received, considering the so self-complacent film she created.
I personally believe that.
Do notOpinions are opinions. Subjective or objective, but I find quite interesting the positive response the second feature film by Greta Gerwig has received, considering the so self-complacent film she created.
I personally believe that.

Do not confuse that feeling with me saying this is a misdone film. There's talent in her direction but Gerwig instead of looking for a challenge having the doors as open as she has them at the moment, she sat in the conformism and made a film that feels totally built as a ''For Your Consideration '' And be afraid if she's not considered.

I don't deny that Gerwig loves the novel, she shows it and certainly this version is her personal vision but despite the nice attempt, there's nothing new or fresh in her take.
I have to admit and emphasize that at this point it's completely stupid and naive to ask for a radical change in a story which has already been told a lot of times in film, however, it also cannot help feeling like a cheap mean of exploiting the story considering our current times, where feminism is now a driving force in the industry.
Like I said, she went for the safe bet.

And yet despite Gerwig's attempt to increase that specific plot weight, she also avoids going to issues that wouldn't work for the story she was trying to tell, because although they're not girls with money, they have the privilege of being protected from the civil war.

Jo is a young woman aware of herself and her mind, which in those times wasn't something positive but obviously the external world is not a concern for her, only her personal interests. And that's ok, we get to be that way, especially when we're young, but how do you try to make woke characters, if it's only in the things that suits them?
That's where the pertinent questions should be asked about what it was decided to take in order to make this new version work according to the director's perspective.

In the end, despite the production quality, Little Women is just a conventional and ordinary repetition of a literary classic that I personally think has already been too used.
But the proposal works both to be loved and to be hated and that depends a lot on the mentality you carry with you when you go to see it.
As always the rest depends on what you get from the film.… Expand

7 of 15 users found this helpful78

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5

KeithDowDec 27, 2019

‘Little Women’ is simply a story of its time … and a bit of a boring one at that. If Greta Gerwig can’t make it captivating, nobody can.

4 of 14 users found this helpful410

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5

JoeCoolMar 10, 2020

The costumes are nice. Some of the star performances are pretty forgettable, some are really good. Sometimes entertainingly humorous, though most of the time it's just depressingly boring. The editing is awkward at times. As a whole it's notThe costumes are nice. Some of the star performances are pretty forgettable, some are really good. Sometimes entertainingly humorous, though most of the time it's just depressingly boring. The editing is awkward at times. As a whole it's not awful, but it's nowhere near as good as the critcs would have you believe.
I guess the critcs value political correctness more than entertainment value.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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5

katezoeApr 25, 2020

Disappointed after reading rave reviews, Oscar nominations, Oscar winner, etc. Too long needed editing...scenes dragged.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

GLADIADORJan 13, 2020

É um filme ok, nada de mais, acho que se eu fosse mulher eu iria gostar mais, ele é um pouco arrastado so uma vez que eu ri na maior parte não

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

BulgarianCriticFeb 9, 2020

I just wanna start off by saying im not that bigof a fan for dramas of this type.
The characters were played pretty well but the story for me was paced too slowly(makes sense though)and some of the choices that the characters made felt likeI just wanna start off by saying im not that bigof a fan for dramas of this type.
The characters were played pretty well but the story for me was paced too slowly(makes sense though)and some of the choices that the characters made felt like they were forced outta thin air and when the girls became hysterical made me kinda cringe and pissed off. +1 from my Mom she liked the movie… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

sicklleMay 26, 2020

Soulless adaptation,miscasting,too modern dialog for the story.no one aged,the same hair cuts,the same faces,the story has no direction,it is not even try to pull you in any direction which is lazy.Emma Watsonm was weak,Laura Dern doesn'tSoulless adaptation,miscasting,too modern dialog for the story.no one aged,the same hair cuts,the same faces,the story has no direction,it is not even try to pull you in any direction which is lazy.Emma Watsonm was weak,Laura Dern doesn't fit& Timothée Chalamet was the cool kid from the neighborhood & what is up with the intense use of the music in the backround?too loud & generic.am giving it 4 for the effort the actors did to give their best,even if that wasn't enough.… Expand