By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, April 7, unless otherwise noted: Little Women (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2019, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: PG, thematic elements, smoking The lowdown: The magic of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” rests upon the method Gerwig — who also wrote the script — uses to construct the movie. Rather than linear storytelling, Gerwig begins with the March girls as young ladies and uses flashbacks to show the challenges, triumphs and heartbreaks they faced as they matured from girls to women. Gerwig’s film feels fresh and modern despite being set during the Civil War. That is because, throughout, she weaves in the social and cultural limitations, restrictions and expectations faced by women during the 1860s. She definitely gives the movie a subtle feminist slant, without distracting from the overall presentation. And while some purists may object to Gerwig’s approach overall, she stays true to the spirit of Alcott’s beloved work. The center of the story is Jo (Saorise Ronan), the oldest March sister. She is a writer, believing her work is good enough to be published. But, as she discovers, publishers — all men — determine what stories women may write and to which specific guidelines they need to conform to be profitable. Jo’s sister, Amy (Florence Pugh), is in Europe studying to be a painter. She, too, faces biases about the subjects women can put on canvas. The majority of the film’s 134-minute running time focuses on the journeys of Jo and Amy. Together they bring Alcott’s book to life in an energized and self-assured manner. The movie, which received six Academy Award nominations, garnered a 95 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes.
New to View: April 7
New to View: April 7
New to View: April 7
By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, April 7, unless otherwise noted: Little Women (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2019, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Rated: PG, thematic elements, smoking The lowdown: The magic of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” rests upon the method Gerwig — who also wrote the script — uses to construct the movie. Rather than linear storytelling, Gerwig begins with the March girls as young ladies and uses flashbacks to show the challenges, triumphs and heartbreaks they faced as they matured from girls to women. Gerwig’s film feels fresh and modern despite being set during the Civil War. That is because, throughout, she weaves in the social and cultural limitations, restrictions and expectations faced by women during the 1860s. She definitely gives the movie a subtle feminist slant, without distracting from the overall presentation. And while some purists may object to Gerwig’s approach overall, she stays true to the spirit of Alcott’s beloved work. The center of the story is Jo (Saorise Ronan), the oldest March sister. She is a writer, believing her work is good enough to be published. But, as she discovers, publishers — all men — determine what stories women may write and to which specific guidelines they need to conform to be profitable. Jo’s sister, Amy (Florence Pugh), is in Europe studying to be a painter. She, too, faces biases about the subjects women can put on canvas. The majority of the film’s 134-minute running time focuses on the journeys of Jo and Amy. Together they bring Alcott’s book to life in an energized and self-assured manner. The movie, which received six Academy Award nominations, garnered a 95 percent fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes.