One hundred years of feminism and then this film. Which should by rights
suck, seeing as its based on a book that's been making me puke since I was
five and stars Winona "Film-Killer" Ryder. She's
everyone's favourite Little Woman, Jo, tomboy and writer, beloved of
Laurie (Bale), who is subsequently bowled over when Meg (Dunst) grows
up and turns into Samantha Mathis. As irony-free as a Christmas card,
Armstrong gives the film charming locations, eliciting performances
that edge up to cute and run away laughing. And Claire Danes dies, so it's
not all bad news.
