Screenwriter: Tom Perotta, based on his novel of the same name
Little Children is a complicated tale of lost innocence and lost love. It’s complicated not because of a confusing storyline, but because it focuses on the behavior of ordinary people who are struggling to find meaning in their lives. And, as we all know, human behavior is anything but simple.
If someone had told stay-at-home mom Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet) she would experience a life-altering event during another ordinary summer day spent at the neighborhood park with her daughter, Lucy (Sadie Goldstein), Sarah would’ve said, “You’re crazy.” But being an anthropologist, she should have known better. For what started out as a silly prank to teach a few self-righteous busybodies a lesson quickly turned into an unexpected relationship between she and “The Prom King,” a.k.a. Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson), a stay-at-home dad and neighborhood hunk. The question becomes: Can (or should) their relationship last?
At the other end of the neighborhood, convicted sex offender Ronnie McGorvey (Jackie Earle Haley) has just been released from jail and is back at home with his mother, May (Phyllis Sommerville). Ex-cop and father turned vigilante, Larry Hedges (Noah Emmerich) – who’s had serious problems of his own, forms a neighborhood committee to keep an eye on the registered sex offender’s every move. One night, as Larry puts up another ream of fliers regarding Ronnie’s recent crime, Larry runs into Brad – who’s supposed to be studying for the bar exam, but who spends his nights reliving his youth while watching kids skateboard at a basketball court. Larry convinces Brad to join his touch football team. Brad is happy to comply…anything to get out from under the thumb of his demanding wife, Kathy (Jennifer Connelly). This decision leads Brad down the path toward regaining the "pants wearer" status in his family and could lead to other life-changing decisions he may or may not regret.
As the story moves along, the lives of these characters and the decisions they make cause them to become more entangled until the tension becomes unbearable, causing the ties that bind them to unravel.
What I liked: I was immediately drawn into this film from the opening shot. From the cinematography to the narration that conveys the characters' inner-most thoughts, this story kept my attention from start to finish. The acting was superb; the story, dramatic and well-written. There’s no wonder why this film received several Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
What I didn’t: I’m not sure I agree with the ending…which doesn’t mean I think it was bad…I’m just not sure I would’ve chosen the same resolution. Chalk it up to “creative differences.” However, I will say that I think it was more realistic in terms of human behavior. And, to be honest, less predictable. And for that, I could be persuaded to agree with it. Also, I'm not quite sure how the storyline relates to the title.
Madeleine says: Worth full rental price, and some may find it worthy of being added to their collection
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