Little Children (DVD, 2007)

Kate Winslet stars in "Little Children" as Sarah, a bored housewife and mother. She spends her days enduring miserable playground playdates with the neighborhood mothers. She's the designated ditzy mother, who forgets to bring her daughter's snack and even fails to bond with her child. At one point, she compares herself to an anthropologist studying a foreign culture, so alienated is she from her fellow mothers. Into this morass stumbles Patrick Wilson playing Brad, the only stay-at-home father in the neighborhood. The women are fascinated by Brad and quickly nickname him "The Prom King." However, despite their fantasies about Brad, they're petrified to actually admit this handsome young father into their group. One day, Sarah does precisely that.

The movie is ultimately about isolation, which is even more strongly seen in a subplot concerning Jackie Earle Haley. His character returns home following a conviction for exposing himself to a child. The townspeople react to him with predictable venom, even as their own misdeeds unfold before our eyes. This moral ambiguity permeates every frame of "Little Children," turning a good drama into something more transcendent - something much more akin to real life. Indeed, characters go from likeable to pathetic and back again within a blink of an eye, all lead by the brilliant acting of Winslet.

Todd Field's follow-up to 2001's "In the Bedroom" is masterfully directed. Fortunately, "Little Children" manages to avoid the melodrama that marred his earlier effort. The Oscar nominated screenplay by Todd Field and Tom Perrotta is based on Perrotta's novel of the same name. The script doesn't always flow perfectly, with frequent jumps between subplots and sometimes jarring changes in tone. However, the plot avoids predictability, with just a few missteps toward the end. All in all, "Little Children" is a first-rate drama - the kind that will stick with you long after the denouement.

Surprise, Surprise & More Surprises. What happens in this movie is shocking, revealing & could happen in any neighborhood. There is a pervert in this movie. There is extreme cruelty in all of us that is horrible to examine. However, this movie does explore it and does examine it quite boldly. This is a movie about about real people. Read the reviews & be prepared to understand the human mind. I do recommend caution especially if you are a prude because you will be stunned & perhaps fascinated at the same time. I thoroughly enjoy Kate Winslet & her fine acting of playing her part. This is a must see film...For Adults Only...

Kate Winslet doesn't disappoint. I'm not a drama type of guy, but my wife recommend it and I wasn't disappointed. "A perfect disfuntional middle class America, with a twist of sexual deviant lurking in your neighborhood."

Great movie. very good acting by every character. Suprised this movie wasn't a larger box office hit..

I originally saw this movie on cable.
It was nominated for three academy awards, and justly so. Kate Winslet's performance was excellent, as always. I could really identify with the character of Sarah.
Another amazing performance is Jackie Earle Haley as Ronnie. He really made me feel for the character. The scenes between Ronnie and his Mother are touching, and Jackie's performance as Ronnie is at times heartbreaking.
It is unfortunate he didn't get the Best Supporting Actor oscar for this film.

It come in a matter of days. I got in the mail, when I had forgotten I was even expecting it. Great shape, no problems with the DVD. Thank you again, it was a pleasure doing business!

EKB

disturbingly wonderful!

it takes average people like you and me
that do things that are taboo and helps
you see through there eyes so you are
less judging and more understanding it does
not mean that some of the carectors are not wrong
it is just like the say don't judge anybody unless you have walk a mile in there shoes this movie is awsome in that way you will see thinks from a
angel that you are not used to and it change my thoughts about thing and turned it upside down as if you where walking a mile in these carrectors shoes
some of the carrectors you will not relate to and some you will but for the most part you see thing in a different angle that you are not used to the movie is not for every one but i think it was well done and wood see it again again it is normal people and not so normal people that seem to have some simalaritys but are different and are going through life with problems normal life problems and toboo problems i wood say this movie is close to the truth of different peopkles life an problems the movie is well donme but some thing are brutal not too much to stomick but touching thing that most people wood not want to think about and it shoes people that do wrong that wood be frowned on and shows who they are living with there fows like every on this very raw material and probly make think and feel and see thing for the first time deiferently well that is the movie its not for everyone but i thought it was well done and had things that make peaople uneasy but at the end you see thing difrently so i will not tell you everthing but i think you might like this movie i did Mike!