Little Children (2006)

Children with full grown inhibitions

" Little Children " is one of the those rare gems of filmmaking that is a remisniscent of early 70's films. It takes it's time with the unfolding stories and character development. The narraration is outstanding and represents the talents of a phenominal script.
Between the infidelities of two married people , a pedophile , an ex cop , a tormented mother , a work focused wife , and a lonely husband , " Little Children " is weaved together perfectly. So perfect , that I felt compelled to recommend this film on cd now. And I haven't revied a worthwhile film on here , in over a year.
Moreover , all the acting is played superbly by a steller cast of solid actors. The standout performace , for me , was that of " Bad News Bears " actor , Jackie Earle Hayley as the pedophile who recently returned back to live with his mom after a prison stint. The chemistry between Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson is utterly believable and the supporting players , Jennifer Connley , Phillis Somerville , and Greg Edelman add the perfect support, providing a haunting platform for fully charged story telling. I highly recommend this film.
There are various adult situations and strong sexual content , so it's not one for the kids. This isn't a feel good story either , so it's not a good first date movie or something to watch when you're in a great mood. However, " Little Children " provides excellent cinematography , editing , script , directing and acting. Perfect is you like true characer driven films. June 19, 2008

Can't shake this one, even after a year.

This film critique is almost oxymoronic in that there was so many things I really enjoyed about the movie, but at the same time there's a ton I didn't enjoy. There are those movies that just make you want to analyze them over and over again, but the problem here is that everytime I attempted to answer a question posed for the audience, I realized that we never did get those answers. Why was Jean mad at Sarah? Did Ronnie live? And what was up with Richard?

Little Children should've been the smart intersection of four separate life stories all entangled in subterfuge, lost and loneliness in suburbia, but I really didn't get that. I got the mopey housewife who once had potential and, dressed, looked only a step better than Cameron Diaz in Being John Malkovich. Sarah Pierce, played by Kate Winslet, is stuck in a drole life where her husband would rather masturbate to internet porn than pay attention to her. He's on-screen long enough to be caught and then we don't see much of him, at all. Sarah's lover Brad's (Patrick Wilson) wife, played nicely be Jennifer Connely almost feels like the most talented actor in the film and isn't given much credit. Throughout she wants Brad to take the bar for the third time, but we don't know why he never passes. I suppose he doesn't want to really be a lawyer and would rather play with his son in the park or watch the local skaters. Sarah seems happy in her boring life where she absolutely nothing to worry about. (Her house is paid for and her daughter's a dear.)

In a seemingly enigmatic parallel plot line, a convicted pedophile has been released from prison and moved into the neighborhood with his elderly mother. Jackie Earle Haley, former child star from The Bad News Bears, plays this predator with acidic aplomb who, at times, the audience can almost feel sorry for. He is sickening to look at, but the entire plot around the town's obsession with his arrival did nothing for the film and didn't seem to mesh with the affair Brad & Sarah begin in the local park -- other than the obvious link between lust & playground antics.

It seemed that whenever Tood Fields wasn't sure how to show a scene, he just decided not to. Instead he had some faceless narrator tell the audience what was about to happen, and by doing so, treated us as if we weren't intelligent enought to figure it out for ourselves. Unfortunately for Sarah, Ronnie, and for us, Fields dropped his voice over narration toward the crucial end, where he left us high and dry. These Little Children went home to bed without as much of a good night, let alone any explanation whatsoever. April 3, 2008

nah, should'nt have made

I liked the novel but definitely didn't like the film.

Sarah is a young mother is bored with hanging out with a group of mothers at the park. They make her feel like an incompetent mother being unprepared with healthy snacks and whatnots. Then, one day, a young father comes into the park with his young son. Of course, the mothers are just giggly and perked up.

On a dare, Sarah approaches the young father, whom she was able to find out that his name is Brad. At that point, something sparks between them even though they both claimed that they're not each other's type. Gradually, their marriage boundaries become blurred and they cross into uncharted territories.

Meanwhile, an older sex offender has been released from prison. He has no choice but to live with his mother in the neighborhood. Of course, with the large number of young parents, the neighbors raise a ruckus. One of the neighbors, a disgraced cop, continues to harrass the sex offender.

The point being is that adults act like little children when it comes to doing whatever they want, rationalizing as well as dealing with situations. Of course, the book is way better. The film, it started off ok but then soon went downhill and just dragged on endlessly. March 19, 2008

A stunning surprise

Any time that I read a review for a film that seems interesting, I add it to an on-going list. It is not always possible to see all of the films when they come to the theatre, so I try to see as many on DVD as I can. But that list keeps getting longer and some films end up getting lost. Such would have been the case of Little Children--had I not picked it up because it had entered the $1 rack at my local Blockbuster. And what a stunning surprise it was. From the very opening to the extraordinary conclusion, I found myself watching it nearly spellbound. There is both a hypnotic and horrifying quality to this satire--an odd but successful combination. Kate Winslet has never been better and Patrick Wilson is nearly perfect as Brad, "The Prom-King." Jennifer Connelly, though she has limited screen time, is equally amazing to watch. And Jackie Earle Haley as the "lives in the neighborhood" sex offender is simply breathtaking. (It was another Amazon reviewer that helped me remember him from "Breaking Away" one of my favorite cycling films of all time.) Little Children haunted me long after the final note of the very powerful musical score had sounded. I would highly recommend that you not miss out on this film--as I nearly did.
One mildly negative note. This is one of those DVD's where I actually wanted a collection of " extras" but where there are none provided. Maybe that is for the better-- in the long run. March 16, 2008

Interesting Mix of Humor and Heartache

Goodness. Think of all the books, films, television shows, that deal with infidelity, suburban angst, yuppie boredom. Well, director Todd Field has found a way to teach a new trick to an old dog: Have as the background to the affair the trials and tribulations of a convicted pedophile coming back to the neighborhood from jail. On top of that, Field brings an edgy brand of humor--humor with an attitude--to his critically-acclaimed film, LITTLE CHILDREN.

What kind of humor? Walking in on a porn-crazed hubby sitting at his computer humor; a blind date between the pedophile and nerdy girl humor; the childish antics of an adult football league game humor. Voiced over by a solemn narrator, it's humor that connects--while simultaneously evoking a shudder. And it is a winning vehicle that makes this film work.

Kate Winslet is a brilliant actress (not to mention easy on the eye). Playing a bored housewife--a wife out of touch with the other clingy and whiny bored housewives of the neighborhood--Winslet draws sympathy and ire as she has an affair with the local househusband (a muscle-bound Patrick Wilson). For his part, Wilson is solid as an ambition-challenged hubby who regrets being an adult. Jennifer Connelly has a surprisingly limited role as Wilson's career-oriented, yet frustrated, wife. And the convicted offender (Jackie Earle Haley). . .I haven't seen anything that creepy since Roger Clemens went before Congress.

With its dark humor and brooding drama, LITTLE CHILDREN is fun to watch. The ending was a tad over the top (actually, it was a lot over the top), hence the four stars. Definitely celluloid worth viewing.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning
February 29, 2008

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