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Aug 19, 2019
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This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Aug 19, 2019

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‘Little Women' Reactions are Mixed: Pugh and Ronan are Fantastic, Too Many Flashbacks, Saved by Last Hour

October 24, 2019 Jordan Ruimy

Another chess piece has been moved when it comes to the Oscar race.

Greta Gerwig’s much-anticipated “Little Women” just screened in L.A. and NYC. A social media embargo has lifted on Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s famous novel and it appears that there are fans, but also many people with reservations, which is quite odd as many film critics tend to not want to express too many negative things in their Twitter reactions so as to appease the studio bigwigs that watch their every move. Suffice to say, this doesn’t look like it’s going to be a “Lady Bird” triumph for Gerwig.

Yes, there seems to be generally positive buzz from many folks who have seen “Little Women,” but I’ve spoken to a few key film critics that didn’t chime in on Twitter and they are telling me not to mark this one as a contender just yet. If anything, Florence Pugh and Saoirse Ronan are being singled out as the stand-outs in a cast that is notably stacked and that could lead to some kind of Oscar traction in the acting races, but, as we speak, I cannot have Gerwig’s film enter the best picture frontrunners list in my predictions.

“Little Women” arrives in theaters on Christmas Day.

Also for such a pretty score it’s overscored? There are moments you just want to hear the girls banter but...nope. #LittleWomen

— Gregory Ellwood - The Playlist 🎬 (@TheGregoryE) October 24, 2019

For my money, the MVP in LITTLE WOMEN is Florence Pugh. Hot off of MIDSOMMAR, Pugh is having a great year, and she’s hilarious and winning as Amy, the character best served by Gerwig’s structural gambits.

— Kyle Buchanan (@kylebuchanan) October 24, 2019

Little Women has a very strong last third, great cinematography and a modern interpretation of the novel that shines brightly. I liked her take on it even when it is hard to follow re: flashbacks. Acting good but Flo Pugh and Streep are standouts.

— Sasha Stone (@AwardsDaily) October 24, 2019

LITTLE WOMEN is charming just like the novel/prior versions. Each role perfectly cast. Rousing score. Timely as ever. Hard not to cheer. Greta says at q&a, “As a girl who wanted to be a writer, Jo March was my north star.” We’ll see as far as Oscars—nice to have an upbeat option. pic.twitter.com/WUDmtJwjd8

— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) October 24, 2019

In short, “Little Women” is a highly respectable, heartfelt, technically well composed effort. But I have to say that it didn’t quite grab me as I’d hoped. Flashbacks, curious dream sequences, confusing here & there. Handsome and lusciously authentic, but feels in-and-outish.

— Hollywood Elsewhere (@wellshwood) October 24, 2019

Hate to burst everyone's bubble, but LITTLE WOMEN is going to win a grand total of Zero Oscars. Take it to the bank.

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) October 24, 2019

#LittleWomen: Gerwig makes this material her own in delightful ways you’d expect and some adult-meditation-on-childhood ways I didn’t. So rewarding to see the ease with which she paints on this canvas and that she (or any director these days) was given it.

— Chris O'Falt (@cofalt) October 24, 2019

The ensemble is dynamite, with Streep, Dern, and Chalamet devouring their characters whole.

Film is structurally different than you will remember. Takes a bit to get off the ground, but comes alive in the second half. #LittleWomenMovie #FilmTwitter #LittleWomen #Oscars

— Clayton Davis (@AwardsCircuit) October 24, 2019
Tags Little Women, Reactions, social media, reviews, Ronan, Pugh, Chalamet
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