Review 721: Little Women (1994)

  

With her husband off during the American Civil War, Abigail "Marmee" March (Susan Sarandon) is left alone to raise their four daughters - her "little women." There is the spirited Jo (Winona Ryder); conservative Meg (Trini Alvarado); fragile Beth (Claire Danes) and romantic Amy (Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis). As the years pass, the sister share some of the most cherished and painful memories of self-discovery as Abigail and Aunt March (Mary Wickes) guide them through issues of independence, romance and virtue.

The screenplay by Robin Swicord not remains faithful to the Louisa May Alcott original but expertly manages to capture the films  

An inspiring tale of goodness and being a good person and doing what you want to do and following your heart.

Winona Ryder  capturing Jo's passion and  She's clever, creative and intellectually restless. Winona's Jo constantly pours over pages, her brain constantly spins

Thanks to the combined efforts of Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis, Amy March

Claire Danes from My So-Called Life  capturing the vulnerable quality She manages to keep  She would rather be there for her family than go out there and be successful like so many of her other sisters. She's the wisest of the March sisters yet she doesn't brag about it, when an argument breaks out she remains careful and observent

Susan Sarandon beautifully captures the warm, maternal nature required for playing the matriach of the March family. 

Christian Bale is immesely charasmatic playing Theodore "Laurie" Laurence. Jo and Laurie have a very competitive friendship; he likes to be a bit naughty like her so there's a kindship between them. 

He doesn't show up until an hour into the film but Gabriel Byrne

Gillian Armstrong's direction is sensitive  the cinematography is beautiful and captures the score by Thomas Newman is lush