Little Women (1994)

[Lieutenant Joined: Dec 3rd, 2016 Topics: 2 Posts: 140 View Predictions]

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I just rewatched Gillian Anderson’s Little Women on Amazon Prime for the first time in years and what a delightfully perfect film.

As much as I love Gerwigs adaption I really think this is spectacular. Winona Ryder is probably at her best here, she truly carries the film and embodies the character of Jo perfectly, well deserving of her 1994 Best Actress nom.

Kirsten Dunst steals the show here as Amy, possibly robbed of a Supporting Actress nom? Hey if Florence Pugh can?

and what an equally brilliant supporting cast, Claire Danes, Christian Bale, Susan Sarandon, Mary Wickes is brilliant as Aunt March, and that SCORE, one of my favourite Thomas Newman scores.

this adaption was ahead of its time with a female led cast and a female director, deserved more nominations in my opinion, thoughts ?

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[Dan Backslide Joined: Apr 24th, 2016 Topics: 63 Posts: 5632 View Predictions]

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It probably would’ve done better awards wise if 1994 wasn’t such a big year for films.

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[rayan008 Joined: Sep 7th, 2020 Topics: 0 Posts: 1 View Predictions]

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Judging from the preview, the new version will not have the same warmth as this one. These actors act and speak in a manner that is far more true to the time. I don’t know how to describe it, but older period dramas has this dreamy, innocent air that modern ones completely lack

Speed Test

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[Lieutenant Joined: Dec 3rd, 2016 Topics: 2 Posts: 140 View Predictions]

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I completely agree. The 1994 adaption benefits from the linear storyline also, I admire Gerwig for tackling it in her version with it going back and forward in time, but it flows much nicer in the 1994 version (and beths death in particular hits harder in the 94 version IMO)

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[Marco11 Joined: Nov 29th, 2014 Topics: 25 Posts: 6615 View Predictions]

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Saw the 1994 version a few days ago, for the first time – I prefer Gerwig’s move, which is quickly becoming a general favourite of mine, but Anderson’s adaptation was good too. One moment which particularly stuck with me was the conversation (well, almost a monologue) between Jo and Beth at her deathbed. I thought Beth’s words described very well her character and its function in the story – she “needs” to die because she isn’t like her sisters, she doesn’t have an equally big passion or aspiration; she’s too pure for this world and this place holds no place for her. A good film indeed.

EDIT: didn’t notice, and completely agree, with Lieutenant’s specific comment about Beth.

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[FairWeatherAffair Joined: May 11th, 2018 Topics: 6 Posts: 942 View Predictions]

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While I agree that this is still a good production, I have to disagree with most: I prefer Gerwig’s adaptation.

I find the screenplay daring in part because a narrative which relies so heavily on time could easily fall apart into nonsense—yet Gerwig avoids this with her stable direction (even if I still believe her writing skills are stronger, with her acting skills being strongest 😅). There are quite beautiful markers between the two time periods presented, and it allows, in whole, to transform a story of growth into a story of reflection. Which, if you ask me, is gorgeous in its own way (and gorgeously metatextual!).

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