Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Tuesday 17 december 2019
Greta Gerwig’s ‘Little Women’ is a new classic

By LINDSEY BAHR “Little Women” a new clas-
Associated Press sic.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — There While no shortage of “Little
is a wild urgency to Greta Women” adaptations exist,
Gerwig’s “Little Women” Gerwig makes hers mod-
that hardly seems pos- ern and sharp, while still
sible for a film based on a adhering to its traditional
150-year-old book. roots.
But such is the magic of And in playing a bit with
combining Louisa May Al- the chronology and instill-
cott’s enduring story of ing depth and nuance
those four sisters with Ger- where many films have
wig’s deliciously feisty, instead chosen shortcuts,
evocative and clear-eyed Gerwig has made the most
storytelling that makes this full-realized interpretation

This image released by Sony Pictures shows, Emma Watson, from left, Florence Pugh, Saoirse
Ronan and Eliza Scanlen in a scene from “Little Women.”
Associated Press

of this well-worn material a “Little Women” fan, Amy Meg (Emma Watson) is liv-
for one simple reason: She ends up with Laurie. ing her life with two kids, a
lets Amy, Beth, Jo and Meg Gerwig flips Alcott’s narra- husband and a yearning
grow up. tive to allow her characters for finer things. Beth (Eliza
Of course others have too, to be women first, instead Scanlen) is still at home.
but it usually comes at the of children. Jo (Saoirse And Amy (Florence Pugh)
end of the film as more of Ronan) is introduced when is in Paris with Aunt March
a coda which can’t help she is already on her own (Meryl Streep) studying
but feel somewhat mel- trying to be a writer and to paint and strategically
ancholy: It’s the death of making compromises all plotting out a future that in-
childhood, after all, when over the place (with her volves a wealthy husband.
dreams are dashed, reality rate, her name, which she In their adult present, Ger-
steps in, practicality trumps declines to use on her sto- wig finds thematically simi-
romantic fantasies and, ries, and what her charac- lar chapters in their past to
most crushingly for many ters do). flash back to. q

A fictional look at the role of ‘oppo’

research

By WILL LESTER and his partner Randi research as a central
Associated Press Brooks are taking on the theme.
“Oppo” (Ecco/Harper timely topic of opposition Rosenstiel was a long-
Collins), by Tom Rosenstiel research in the new politi- time Washington re-
Investigator Peter Rena cal thriller “Oppo” by Tom porter who has closely
Rosenstiel. followed capital politics
The novel looks at the story as a reporter, research-
of Wendy Upton, a centrist er and media leader
Republican senator of- for decades. His novels
fered the VP slot by lead- have followed develop-
ing presidential candidates ments surrounding the
from both parties. Very search for a Supreme
soon, she gets a mysterious Court justice, a political
threatening call that could firefight over a deadly
derail her career. terrorist attack and now,
She hires Rena, Brooks and the role of opposition re-
their investigative team to search.
find out who is threatening Through the adventures
her and what damaging of Rena and Brooks, he
info they have on her. tells how these political
This may seem familiar dramas can play out,
This cover image released by as the country is going with a good eye for
Ecco shows “Oppo” a novel through an impeachment Washington detail and
by Tom Rosenstiel.
Associated Press inquiry with opposition characters.q