Little Children

Starring: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly, Jackie Earle Haley
Directed by: Todd Field
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance
2006

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A mother (Kate Winslet) and a soccer dad (Patrick Wilson) begin having an affair in a small neighborhood that is currently dealing with a pedophile (Jackie Earle Haley) who has moved into the community.

Review:

Tim: Little Children is an interesting look at suburbia and the occasional dysfunctions that exist there, just below the surface. This movie is all about sin, redemption, and the struggles that people deal with on a daily basis. This is a complicated film that doesn't pull its punches.

In many ways, the film quickly draws you into the story. There is something so universal about the quiet desperation that these characters are going through. Their suffering is passive- the kind of suffering that it is not often a topic of conversation.

This all comes across very vividly because of the cast. Kate Winslet gives yet another terrific performance. Patrick Wilson is likewise good, but for very different reasons. He is almost childlike in his naivety. For some unexplained reason, Winslet and Wilson get along very well together. Jennifer Connelly adds in a decent performance, but she is strangely underutilized. She's a terrific actress, and I wish she had more screen time. You then have to add in Jackie Earle Haley's chilling portrayal of a convicted pedophile trying to readjust to "normal" life. This is what makes the film unique. His performance is so off-kilter, so bizarre (in a very restrained manner) that you can't help but take notice. He deserves his Academy Award nomination, because of the complexity of his performance. He doesn't lash out in a crazy way. On the surface, he might even be considered "normal." But, there's something so scary about him just beneath the layers of normalcy.

Little Children is such a memorable movie because of how restrained everything is- no one seems to truly be themselves (much like modern suburbia). The film ultimately leads to a conclusion that is mostly beneath the rest of the film. The movie's conclusion is among the weakest aspects of the film. While we loved the journey, we're not entirely satisfied with the destination. Still, there is so much that can be said about this movie. It should definitely be on your To-See list.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Holy Smoke, Stranger Than Fiction, In the Bedroom