Saturday, November 18, 2006

Little Children

Last night I saw Little Children starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson.

It was the most complex, realistic and human movie I've seen all year.

The setting—American suburbia—is perfectly executed in the catty behavior of the soccer moms and the weekly football games the men play as an escape.

At first the movie is funny, complete with voiceovers that actually work and a steamy romance that you root for. Then, the movie turns dark as you find yourself alternately sympathizing with and being disgusted by the town pedophile, portrayed brilliantly by Jackie Earle Hayley.

It all comes to a climactic end when the characters each discover their individual destiny and take action to live them out. It makes you think, it makes you laugh and it makes you cry. The problem that I had with it was that the entire movie seemed to be illustrating why some things are just meant to be, yet the ending doesn't pay that theory off.

Nonetheless, it's another fantastic journey from Todd Field that carries us through the American experience with fierce authenticity.

To hear me and Michaelvox discuss this in Cinebanter 14, click here.

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