LITTLE WOMEN (1994) - dir. Gillian Armstrong
Period films are some of my favorite films, but they can be mucked up pretty easily in the care of an unsure director. Luckily, 1994's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's 19th century novel "Little Women" had Australian director Gillian Armstrong (whose own career saw a 90's height with 1997's great film "Oscar and Lucinda," starring Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett) guiding its cast and crew, and the result, IMHO, is a holiday classic. It is also late-night bedroom pornography for teenage girls everywhere because of its inclusion of Christian Bale in the cast as Theodore Laurence, friend and neighbor to those incorrigible March sisters.
Christian Bale was already a sensation among ladies of all ages for his preteen and teen standout performances in films such as Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" (1987), "Newsies" (1992), and my personal fave, "Swing Kids" (1993), which put an oh-so-very-wrong veneer on teenage crush daydreaming, what with the Nazi theme and all. But "Little Women" was the clincher for me and many other women, I'm sure. Though Bale is now known for "brooding intensity" and quite an impressive facility with an American accent (see the Christopher Nolan-directed "Batman" franchise), I will always treasure Bale's romantic turn as "Laurie" in Little Women.
The thing about Bale in this film that, in my mind, differs from his acting now, is how vulnerable he was. The scene where Laurie first declares his love for Winona Ryder's Jo March, ending in an awkward kiss, is notable both for the fine trickle of spittle that clings to their lips as they pull away, and the heated passion that Bale brings. There was no doubt how this cat felt about this stupid girl who rejects him in the end for an admittedly sexy, but quite older Gabriel Byrne. Somewhere in her heart, Jo March regretted her choice, I know it. Christian Bale truly upped his value as an actor by including "romantic lead" on his resume. Check it out:
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