Tag: louisa may alcott

January 15, 2020

The Academy’s Little problem with Women

Greta Gerwig’s adaption of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women hit screens everywhere in December of last year. Three weeks on, it seems the film is headed for total success. With wide acclaim and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%, it’s unsurprising that The Academy has been paying attention, and it’s clear they LOVE it, nominating Little Women for six Oscars, including best picture and best actress. This comes as a welcome result considering the movie’s lack of appearance in the Golden Globe‘s best picture category.

image via refinery29

Sadly, unlike 2018, Greta Gerwig was not among the list of best directors, a list that was problematically entirely male. This highlights a bigger problem in Hollywood’s reportedly sexist culture. Greta Gerwig scripted an incredible adaption of a classic book, pulled together her powerhouse of a cast and kept Alcott’s core messages throughout. Some would argue that she deserves an award for bringing Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet together on screen again alone – but that might just be me. Despite all of this, she was snubbed when the nominations were released earlier this week. If Greta Gerwig couldn’t make the cut, it begs the question of what criteria is being considered.

image via statista

When Louisa May Alcott penned Little Women, the rebellious and enduring nature of the March sisters is part of what made the novel so brilliant and Greta Gerwig is no stranger to rebellion nor endurance, creating and existing as she does in a male-dominated film environment. It’s not all doom and patriarchal gloom, though. In speaking to Vanity Fair, the producer of the film, Amy Pascal, pointed out that Little Women was the “third movie in the history of the Academy that has been nominated [for best picture] that has been written, directed, and produced by women.” That, in and of itself, is proof that Hollywood’s problems (much like our own) may lessen with age.

One of the core messages in Little Women, particularly in the movie, is the importance of writing, reading, and learning (oh my!). Spoilers are incoming for those of you fortunate enough not to know this!! When Beth gets sick, her illness is something that Jo hopes to aid with fresh sea air and a good story. Tragically, the plot alone is not enough to save Beth but the stories Jo writes for her are a comfort in her time of need. I think we can all agree that the comfort of a favorite story is no small thing and with Little Women being that favorite for so many people, the novel and film are self-fulfilling. Gerwig credits Little Women for giving her the inspiration to write and create, the film a passion project that no Oscar could ever overshadow.

moe’s book club via tumblr

Despite the gender politics, the movie looks set to surpass box office records and hopefully take home some, if not all, its prospective awards at the Oscars. Gerwig may not have a directorial nomination to celebrate, but the film has the best picture prospects alongside potential accolades for Saoirse Ronan and Florence Pugh.

As Jo put it herself: “Women, they have minds, and they have souls as well as just hearts, and they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty”. Academy, make a note.

Featured Image Via Britannica

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June 24, 2019

First Official Look at Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’

If you’ve been counting down the days to Christmas not for Santa but for the latest Little Women adaptation, Vanity Fair has brought it to you early! Who said you can’t have a piece of Christmas joy in June, anyway? With exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes shoots, you can get your first look at Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.

Since Ladybird took everyone by storm with stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet, everyone has been asking what Gerwig would do to follow up that masterpiece. Well, she is once again taking Ronan and Chalamet on her journey into Louisa May Alcott’s 19th Century novel, Little Women as Jo and Laurie. Joining them are Emma Watson (Meg), Meryl Streep (Aunt Josephine), Laura Dern (Marmee), Eliza Scanlan (Beth), and Florence Pugh (Amy).

image via le bleu du miroir

If you’re rolling your eyes and asking yourself if we need another 19th century take on the world, don’t fret. Gerwig, though keeping the adaption true to Alcott’s work, will be adding in modern twists. According to IndieWire, Gerwig is committed to shooting scenes in Massachusetts, not far from where the Alcott family lived, including scenes at the schoolhouse where her father taught.

image via slash film

One major aspect that Gerwig is diving into is the relationship between Jo, a girl with a traditional boy’s name, and Laurie, a boy with a traditional girl’s name. According to Gerwig, “In some ways the two are each other’s twin.” To heighten that relationship, she worked closely with the costume’s department. Throughout the film the two will swap pieces of clothing or accessories. Gerwig explains:

They find each other before they’ve committed to a gender. It wouldn’t be wrong to call Saoirse handsome and Timothée beautiful. Both have a slightly androgynous quality that makes them perfect for these characters.

Seeing how Gerwig plans to approach this relationship, it makes me excited to think of all the other themes she will be modernizing in the film. If you’ve seen Ladybird, you know Gerwig has an eye for detail, an amazing one at that. Christmas can’t come soon enough.

featured image via abc news

June 10, 2019

5 Book to Movie Adaptions We Can’t Wait For

The year is almost halfway through, but thankfully there are so many exciting adaptations happening the second half of 2019! Here are the one’s we are most excited for:

**1. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer**

image via disney books

Judi Dench and Josh Gad are set to star in the adaptation of Artemis Fowl. Set over the course of eight books, the first features our hero Artemis after he kidnaps an elf-fairy and holds her for a hefty, hefty ransom to help build back his family’s fortune. His dad, who is also a criminal, has been missing for quite some time as well. This sci-fi, fantasy tale was first published in 2001, and it was a hit amongst middle grade and young adult readers. It is astounding that it took this long to get the movie, but we can’t wait for this one to come out August 9th!

**2. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple**

image via popsugar

Kristen Wiig and Cate Blanchett are set to star in this adaptation when it hits the big screen on August 9th! The story is that of an anxiety-plagued mother, who hates everyone and everything until one day she caves from the pressure and suddenly packs up and leaves. Everyone, including her fifteen-year-old daughter, are left trying to figure out where she went and why she left. The book was originally published in 2013, and it was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award for Humor.

**3. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt**

image via the reader’s room

When this book came out in 2013, it was impossible to not see someone reading it on the train or overhear someone else talking about it. The book was an instant success, taking home the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2014. Ansel Elgort and Luke Wilson are both set to star in the feature film this coming October. The story takes place over a decade, focusing on the coming of age of a young man whose mother dies from a terrorist attack in an art museum. This paves the way to a series of unfortunate events in his life, including moving in with his alcoholic father and stealing prized artwork. What I’m saying is if you haven’t read this one yet, make sure you get to it before this hits the big screen! It is a doozy.

**4. The Rhythm Section by Mark Burnell**

image via goodreads

This is the closest we will get, for now anyway, to a female James Bond! After her entire family dies in a plane crash, a woman discovers that this was no accident, but a premeditated terrorist attack. She decides to leave her life of prostitution behind and become part of the Intelligence Agency. She becomes the assassin she needs to be in order to avenge her family’s death and take out every last person involved with the attack. Blake Lively is to star alongside Jude Law in this juicy thriller, set to hit the big screen November 22nd!

**5. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott**

image via sterling books

You may be in the camp that says we don’t need another Little Women adaptation, but what if I told you Emma Watson was set to star alongside Saoirse Ronan and Meryl Streep? The star-studded cast is sure to make for a great film on its own. Add in the truly beautiful story Alcott penned in 1868 and it becomes irresistible. Taking place during the Civil War, it tells the story of four sisters, Mary, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they make their way through childhood and into the next stages of their lives, dealing with the good, the bad, and the ugly. It is one of the most heartwarming tales, and I can’t wait to see what these beautiful women do with the story!

Featured Image Via We Heart It

April 16, 2019

Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ Might Premiere At Cannes!

There are a lot of big movies that are premiering at Cannes this year, and it looks like another big one might be coming.

Though things aren’t official yet, Variety is reporting that Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood might not premiere at the festival this year due to the fact that the film is still in post-production and will not be ready in time for the festival. If it comes down to this, Sony has a backup film: Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.

The director of Lady Bird is directing the latest adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic about the four March sisters growing up in Massachusetts. Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen and Emma Watson play the four sisters. Laura Dern plays their mother, Meryl Streep plays their aunt and Timothée Chalamet plays Amy’s husband Theodore. The film is scheduled for release this Christmas.

Image Via Scary Mommy

It would be a surprising turn of events to see Little Women at Cannes this year. Do you hope to see it instead of Quentin Tarantino?

Featured Image Via Awards Circuit

March 7, 2018

‘Little Women’ Goes Modern With Multicultural Graphic Novel

In honor of Little Women‘s 150th anniversary, Little, Brown Books Books for Young Readers is revamping Louisa May Alcott’s beloved classic with a modern spin.

The publishing company is collaborating with Tapas Media to bring color to the pages of this classic with a new graphic novel which will feature a muilticultural version of the March family.

150 years after Little Women enchanted readers everywhere, audiences across the world have become immersed in more diversified cultures and will find themselves better able to identify with the March family ever more than before.

^{Image Via Bre Indigo/Tapas Media}

Written by Rey Terciero and illustrated by Bre Indigo, this graphic novel, titled Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy, will honor Alcott’s incredible characters while acknowledging the dramatic cultural shift that has occurred in the last 150 years.

“Bre and I wanted to see ourselves in the characters, too, which is why we made the family diverse,” Terciero said. This representation will go beyond skin color, however, as the graphic novel will also feature an LGBTQ character.

Terciero comments:

I wanted to play with the subtext that may not have been available 150 years ago, but that we can speak openly about these days. Being LGBT myself, I’m just happy to be creating a book that I wish I could have read as a young reader.

^{Image Via Bre Indigo/Tapas Media}

Mirroring Alcott’s version, the graphic novel will dive into some heavy topics including sexuality, maturity, sisterhood, identity, and more. However, the colorful illustrations will help to bring light to the dark matters and maintain an uplifting tone.

“It’s also very PG, and very sweet,” Terciero said. “I wanted to be sensitive with the heavy topics while staying true to Alcott’s vision of empowering young women.”

^{Image Via Bre Indigo/Tapas Media}

Indigo spoke of her desire to see modern audiences find a new reliability in the diverse characters.

She said:

Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy have so much in common with today’s youth and hopefully when young readers pick up the book they can find themselves in the girls and apply their growth to their own lives. My personal goal as an artist is to help others to embrace empathy, to relate to one another and grow as individuals. And I think our book does just that.

Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy will premiere as an episodic series online, with the first episode available this week. A paperback version along with e-book editions will be released in November 2018.

Feature Image Via Bre Indigo/Tapas Media