Little Women (2019)

There will come a time when movies from this decade are characterized in satire by the overabundance of disjointed timelines. On rare occasions, a nonlinear narrative is integral to the story itself (in film, Arrival; in television, HBO’s Westworld). Done properly, this can be marvelously impactful. Other times, however, this technique is simply employed because the writer or director could. It serves as a framing device or even a gimmick. All too often, this non-linearity adds nothing; worse yet, it can suck the tension out of a narrative by revealing too much of the story at once.

Greta Gerwig’s Little Women narrowly avoids the worst of these fates. The chopped-up fashion in which it presents events does not undermine the film’s narrative. It’s not confusing or hard to follow. It’s simply woefully unnecessary.

But I do the film an injustice by focusing on the bad when there is really so little of it. The casting is wonderful, the acting excellent, the costuming and set pieces sparkle, and the gorgeous colors and lighting compliment the cinematography. The ending was ok.

Dinner Recommendations:

Salad. Hors d’oeuvre. Main course​. Appetizer. Dessert. Aperitif.

In that order.