Little Children Review

by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)
December 1st, 2006

LITTLE CHILDREN
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2006 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): ****

One of the very best movies of the year, LITTLE CHILDREN is a gripping romantic tragedy. One could accurately but misleadingly call it a story about infidelity in suburbia, but that misses too much of the narrative nuance, and this is a story rich in nuance. Bursting with sharply written characters who earn your attention, the movie concerns three couples, two married ones plus a mother and a grown son who function as a couple. The son is a "pervert," who has served his time in prison and who is now leading a life of scorn from his neighbors. His character is as conflicted as are our emotions about him. He's sometimes sympathetic and other times downright pathetic. His story, however, is the B story. The main storyline concerns the affair between a househusband and a housewife, who have lots of time on their hands taking care of their children while their spouses work.

Given the filmmakers involved, perhaps the movie's success should come as no surprise, as it is directed by Todd Field (IN THE BEDROOM), and written by Field and Tom Perrotta, based on Perrotta's novel. You may remember Perrotta from a previous book of his that was adapted very successfully to the screen, ELECTION. The omnipresent and very insightful narrator (Will Lyman) beautifully reads key passages from "Little Children" to set the scenes. ("His world had cracked open to reveal an exciting possibility." "This was a room repopulated with remnants of her former self.") The lush and inviting narration alone is worth the price of admission.

Set in a small village in Massachusetts, the movie opens with a scene at a children's playground in a local park. As is common in such places -- our house faces a small park just like the one in the picture, so I know -- the area is filled with married moms and their kids. Male adults are a relatively unusual sight. Within this enclave of doting moms, a man has recently been upsetting the women. Calling this handsome hunk, "the prom king," none of them will speak to him, because, if they get to know him, they complain that they'll start having to wear make-up to the park and worrying about choosing the right outfits from their wardrobes.

Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet), a boyish looking woman who dresses in blue jean overalls, thinks the other moms are silly. She goes over and introduces herself to the prom king, finding out that his name is Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson, HARD CANDY). Since the women bet her that she couldn't get his phone number, she goes them one better by hugging him and kissing him goodbye. It's an impetuous act, which proves to be the beginning of both of their eventual downfalls. But before any problems arise, they begin a long and platonic friendship that finds them meeting daily at the local pool. As their kids play, Brad and Sarah talk, read and generally act like long-time best friends. Of course, their respective spouses know little about this.

Sarah is married to the financially very successful Richard (Gregg Edelman). He "lies" for a living, as Sarah puts it. Richard describes his work as "branding" and most certainly not mere advertising. They occupy at a large house, which they inherited from his mother. Sarah hates it.

Brad quite honestly tells Sarah that his wife Kathy (Jennifer Connelly) is a knockout. With long, lovely legs that go on forever, she is as erotically alluring as she is sexually disinterested. A PBS documentary filmmaker, Kathy is, however, very interested in Brad finally passing his bar exam -- he has failed twice already and isn't really studying anymore -- and in Brad cutting back on unnecessary expenses, like his subscription to men's and mothering magazines.

A jock in college ten long years ago, Brad is asked to become the quarterback of the Guardians, a team made up mainly of local cops who play in a nighttime flag football league. The film is sometimes quite funny, and the best of these times comes in the narration of the football games of the Guardians, who are perennial losers. Noah Emmerich (THE TRUMAN SHOW) gives a striking performance as an unemployed ex-cop with a sad back story who plays on the team but devotes most of his energies to harassing Ronnie McGorvey (Jackie Earle Haley), the aforementioned "pervert."

As the story reaches the end of its natural but completely satisfying arc, lovebirds Sarah and Brad have gone from finally consummating their relationship to the realm of unfounded faith in the belief that secrets can be kept forever and that affairs can go on without end.

LITTLE CHILDREN tells a tragic and poignant tale that won't soon be forgotten. If you love good writing and superlative acting, then this is a movie to put on your "don't miss" list.

LITTLE CHILDREN runs 2:10 but feels much shorter. It is rated R for "strong sexuality and nudity, language and some disturbing content" and would be acceptable for most teenagers.

The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the Century theaters.

Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com

Email: [email protected]

***********************************************************************

Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email?
Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.

More on 'Little Children'...


Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.