Compelling stories in ‘Little Children’
“Little Children” paints an absorbing portrait of several dysfunctional adults and how their lives play out within their spheres of acquaintances and individually.
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Each character's foibles and hang-ups help make this a compelling story.
I've watched this film twice and got more out of the tale the second time around.
Kate Winslet is Sarah, whom we are supposed to believe is a bit on the plain side. She isn't.
She meets other mothers from the neighborhood at the local park where they sit and gossip while their children play. The other mothers are focused and organized. At precisely 10:30 their children are called by their mothers for the morning snack. Invariably, Winslet's character forgets her snack for her daughter and the others must share so the little girl doesn't go without.
The highlight for the other women is when "the prom king," as they call him, takes his child to the park.
The prom king is a stay-at-home dad played by Patrick Wilson. He has a law degree but can't seem to pass the bar examination. His wife, played by Jennifer Connelly, is the driven business executive who earns the family's living.
Ah, but there's more.
Jackie Earl Haley, whom as a youngster was one of the cutters in "Breaking Away," and was one of the "Bad News Bears, " plays a child molester who is released from jail. His mother, played by Phyllis Somerville, says he isn't a bad boy, he's just done some bad things. She knows her time on this planet is limited and wants him settled down with a nice girl.
Gregg Edelman plays Winslet's husband, who jeopardizes his career and marriage by starting a love affair with an Internet porn site.
Winslet and Wilson's characters find they have more in common with each other than their spouses and begin an affair.
The plot is actually a myriad of side stories. Besides Wilson's affair, he joins a rough-and-tumble pickup football team but enjoys watching kids skateboard.
Noah Emmerich plays a former cop who accidentally kills a boy who has a toy gun. He tries to make up for it by ridding the neighborhood of the pedophile.
This movie is a vignette of sidestories and for the most part they work.
The story lines don't tie up neatly, as our lives and troubles don't neatly come to a conclusion at a certain point.
But you will become drawn to the stories and characters. "Little Children" is an apt title. Watch this for the immaturity in us all. LITTLE CHILDREN • Directed by Todd Field • Story by Field and Tom Perrotta • Runtime: 130 minutes • Rated R for strong sexuality and nudity and language • 3 stars out of 4
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