Little Children

I'm going to need some time to fully digest this film, and probably a second viewing, but my gut opinion is that Little Children was amazing. The film is a sharp commentary on suburban life and our modern culture. Think of it as Desperate Housewives if Desperate Housewives were literate, intelligent, well-directed, and well-acted.

My rough interpretation at this point is about how those in the suburbs have formed a society of little children. Certainly the characters in the film are. They act on their insticts, without thinking through the ramifications of their actions. Its similar to how Kate Winslet's daughter, Lucy, refuses to ride in the car seat. She has no thought of the danger, only that restricting herself is uncomfortable. In this way, all four of the most important characters of the film (Sarah, Brad, Larry, and Ronald) cause severe damage to themselves and others because they are little children, thinking only of themselves and what they want. I see Little Children as a coming of age movie about a bunch of 30 and 40 year olds.

However, the film can be enjoyed on a completely different level, as an acting extravaganza. Kate Winslet, who is my favorite actor working right now, invests Sarah with a huge sense of melancholy and regret. It is a deep and fulfilling performance. Jackie Earle Haley, as Ronald, has the toughest job in the film, he has to make you feel sympathy for a child molester. Haley succeeds by subtly underplaying Ronald, and infusing him with a complex cocktail of emotions ranging from guilt to anger to sorrow. Finally, Patrick Wilson hasn't gotten a lot of notice for his performance, but it was subtle and charming.

The film may not be perfect. At times the narration overexplains things we can see clearly and the Madame Bovary scene overlabors its point. However, none of that takes away from the fact that Todd Field has made a worthy successor to In the Bedroom and a film that I will likely be going over in my mind for a while.

A-