Little Children
Early on in the dark, suburban Little Children, the wry and spooky narrator says that we humans want what we want and no amount of logic or sense can sway us from that.
This’s basically the way little children think.
But it’s also the thought-pattern for a disaffected suburban housewife (Kate Winslet), and an emasculated stay-at-home dad who once was a Golden Boy (Patrick Wilson.) These two are going to have a messy affair, despite logic and sense telling them they should avoid it at all costs.
And then there’s the uncontrollable want of Winslet’s husband, who is secretly addicted to internet porn. And then there is the unstoppable want of Wilson’s wife (Jennifer Connolly), who is more obsessed with the family she’s doing a documentary about than she is her own husband and child.
Finally, there is the unbearable want of the local sexual pervert. Jackie Earl Haley’s character once exposed himself to a child, and now he’s home, living with his ancient mom, and trying to avoid the oddly-fixated ex-cop who is intent on bullying him out of town.
Yep, you know it! These lives are going to intersect in ugly, unpredictable ways. And everyone is going to learn how wanting what they want without listening to reason can hurt them.
But nothing in this film happens exactly the way we expect, and that’s good. From the dark, witty narrator (as a sort of Voice of God) to the unusual plot, Little Children keeps us on our toes. And the film never asks us to root for people who are basically not interesting or admirable (like another suburban film, the grossly over-rated American Beauty) did. Instead, Little Children makes its less-than-admirable characters incredibly fascinating. And it has an elaborately navigated set of plots. That’s how it engages us.
It’s not the best film ever made. But it isn’t dull. It’s superbly acted - Winslet and Haley are especially worth note. Director/adapter Todd Fields knows how to shoot a scene and how to keep things tense. And, finally, the plot and the characters do things that we don’t quite expect.
In my humble opinion, Little Children is an excellent way to spend two hours of your life. Want it!
posted by Schmacko @ 12:14 PM
2 Comments:
I read this book and was worried about the movie. I didn't like the book, because I felt Tom Perotta was trying to be too offensive and shocking for the sake of being shocking, like AM Homes or Todd Solondz.
Mostly, I think the movie did the book justice(although I still think 'American Psycho' is still my favorite movie translation! Truly what the book should have been). Kate Winslett's character is a bit more sympathetic than the book- her character in the book is so empty and superficial- although I think all the characters were.
Not for everyone, and not as disturbing as Todd Solondz, but worthy of a Netflix rental.
I agree that American Psycho is an excellent movie. But talk about being shocking for shock's sake - I think Brett Easton Ellis' book certainly qualifies. The movie did so much to define the narcicism and the egocentric, mysogynist fantasies/realities of the character that it made it work.
The weird thing is that the movie gave the story a context that I think was a bit missing in the book.
Stiull, it was a filthy little read, but I did like the book. We all like a little satirical filth every now and again.
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