2008 Woodie Awards
Child molestation film tests audience's limits
Movie Review: 'Little Children,' 5 of 5 stars
By: James Hansen
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: LifeStyle
- Page 1 of 1
Todd Field exploded onto the independent film scene five years ago with his highly acclaimed debut "In The Bedroom." His latest feature, "Little Children," has Oscar written all over it. The film, adapted from a book by Tom Perrotta, is beautiful, disturbing, darkly humorous and resoundingly powerful all in one. Field and Perrotta blend every element to perfection in this dark, nose-dive into suburbia.
Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet) is stuck in a dull marriage and growing frustrated with her repetitive lifestyle. She goes to the park every day with the neighborhood mothers, where they become enamored by a man they call the Prom King. The Prom King, whose actual name is Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson of "Angels in America"), also is caught in a lifeless marriage to his seemingly perfect wife, Kathy (Jennifer Connelly). Sarah and Brad's relationship ignites into a passionate love affair.
As their adulterous relationship escalates, Brad joins a nighttime football league with Larry Hedges, a former cop. Larry is driven by his obsession with a convicted child molester, Ronnie, who has moved into their peaceful community. Larry has started an abusive group to try and get Ronnie to leave town.
"Little Children" is fueled by a slew of great performances. Winslet has never been better and Wilson is having a breakthrough film year with this film on top of the ferocious "Hard Candy."
However, it is the devastating scenes involving Ronnie, played with dark tenderness by Jackie Earle Haley, that often have the most dramatic impact. On a hot summer day, Ronnie goes to cool off at a local swimming pool filled with kids. When the children's mothers discover Ronnie in the pool, they panic and call the police. Haley has great range from being a sympathetic character to suddenly transitioning into the vile child molester whom the town is worried about.
Child molestation and unsettling suburbia have been a common thread in many recent films, headed up by the filmography of director Todd Solondz. However, Field and Perrotta bring more depth to the material than in any previous films. Field brings in an edgy fragility, punctuated by brutal reality that is becoming increasingly rare.
As these realities catapult into each other, "Little Children" takes a bold leap in storytelling and pushes the brink of going too far. The situations and emotions escalate and approach the point of spiraling out of control.
Beneath the surface of a nearly overwhelming conclusion, "Little Children" gives us reaffirmation in life and reason for the struggles we battle through every day. The challenges the characters faced and whose relationships were tested are all part of the giant puzzle of being human.
"Little Children" is currently in limited release. Viewers should check their local listings for showtimes.
Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet) is stuck in a dull marriage and growing frustrated with her repetitive lifestyle. She goes to the park every day with the neighborhood mothers, where they become enamored by a man they call the Prom King. The Prom King, whose actual name is Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson of "Angels in America"), also is caught in a lifeless marriage to his seemingly perfect wife, Kathy (Jennifer Connelly). Sarah and Brad's relationship ignites into a passionate love affair.
As their adulterous relationship escalates, Brad joins a nighttime football league with Larry Hedges, a former cop. Larry is driven by his obsession with a convicted child molester, Ronnie, who has moved into their peaceful community. Larry has started an abusive group to try and get Ronnie to leave town.
"Little Children" is fueled by a slew of great performances. Winslet has never been better and Wilson is having a breakthrough film year with this film on top of the ferocious "Hard Candy."
However, it is the devastating scenes involving Ronnie, played with dark tenderness by Jackie Earle Haley, that often have the most dramatic impact. On a hot summer day, Ronnie goes to cool off at a local swimming pool filled with kids. When the children's mothers discover Ronnie in the pool, they panic and call the police. Haley has great range from being a sympathetic character to suddenly transitioning into the vile child molester whom the town is worried about.
Child molestation and unsettling suburbia have been a common thread in many recent films, headed up by the filmography of director Todd Solondz. However, Field and Perrotta bring more depth to the material than in any previous films. Field brings in an edgy fragility, punctuated by brutal reality that is becoming increasingly rare.
As these realities catapult into each other, "Little Children" takes a bold leap in storytelling and pushes the brink of going too far. The situations and emotions escalate and approach the point of spiraling out of control.
Beneath the surface of a nearly overwhelming conclusion, "Little Children" gives us reaffirmation in life and reason for the struggles we battle through every day. The challenges the characters faced and whose relationships were tested are all part of the giant puzzle of being human.
"Little Children" is currently in limited release. Viewers should check their local listings for showtimes.
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