Little Children (2006)

Instant Favorite.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

One of the best movies I have seen all year, it had me laughing out loud in the beginning, horrified towards the middle and completely enamored in the end. It's one of those films that runs the gamut of emotion, and what begins as a light-hearted film about the lives of ordinary people, turns out to be a film about sacrifice, acceptance, and dealing with your inner demons. The acting was PHENOMENAL, the script was nuanced and well-written, and the cinematography was understated but effective. It reminds me of American Beauty, in that it is a film that deserves all of the accolades it is meant to garner, and should be seen by not only fans of great acting, but anyone who cares about talented film making. One of the best American films I have seen in a long time. I could not recommend it any higher.

I enjoyed this film, but found it a little too dark for my tastes, however it is very well done and over all the performance are very good. Looking in a these character's lives, I kept hoping for some inclination that one of these people had some good in them,, but nope. Nothing. Every character is severely flawed in many ways and in different degrees. I just found that after watching them for two hours, I felt like smacking them and yelling 'SMARTEN UP!" But I guess that is what this movie is all about, so indeed, a good character study. Thought Kate Winslett and Jennifer Connally were great. Although I did find a few weird things in the script. Such as Kathy telling Brad they should invite Lucy's family over for dinner, based solely on the fact that the little boy told her he had a new friend. Seems very unlikely. The other unusual thing was the scene where Kathy is under the table and is intrigued by Sarah's feet. If you watch the movie, this makes no sense at all as her feet appear pretty normal. However there is apparently an explanation in the book, but it doesn't translate to film with out somehow explaining why. All in all, for movie buffs, a good movie to see.

"Little Children" (2006) is a well-done adult drama mixed with lots of dry humor. The story revolves around two suburban couples in Connecticut and people linked to them. Sarah (Kate Winslet) becomes increasingly intrigued by a local stay-at-home dad, Brad (Patrick Wilson), particularly when she catches her husband yielding to his base desires (in a particularly funny scene). It's a slow descent into hell, so to speak, as the situation leads to adultery and its typical consequences. There's also a subplot about a man just released from prison for exposing himself to a minor and the ex-cop who's obsessed with destroying him, but the latter has his own demons, which disqualifies him of his high horse.The film's called "little children" (presumeably taken from the Bible, e.g. 1 John) because the key adults are acting like little children in one way or another rather than responsible adults. The message of the film is simple: GROW UP. Or "everyone grows older, but not everyone grows up." Winslet shines here. "Little Children" was released nine years after her breakthrough in "Titanic" and she's just way more appealing as a woman -- a curvy whoa-man -- than as the teenager with baby fat (not that she wasn't attractive in "Titanic," of course; just that mature women are always better than immature girls IMHO). Jennifer Connelly plays Kathy, the bread-winning wife of Brad, and I find it interesting that the movie goes out of its way to say that Kathy is a "knockout" while Sarah (Winslet) is kind of plain, short and with too-thick eyebrows. I guess "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" because, as pretty as Connelly may be (just too thin), I think Kate blows her out of the water with her voluptuousness."Little Children" is just a solid adult drama. It has some dialogue-driven (and body language-driven) slow parts, but it consistently maintains your attention and adequately shows that ordinary life and the glory & shame thereof is more compelling (and funny) than the most overwrought CGI-laden action-packed idiotic "blockbuster" (not that those types of films can't be effective, like the outstanding "Terminator 2: Judgment Day").There's one brilliant scene that takes place at the dinner table where both couples finally spend time together. During the conversation Kathy picks up on her radar what's really going on between Brad and Sarah. It's subtle, but she clearly picks it up. The directing, writing and acting of this scene are all flawless -- masterful filmmaking.The ending could've been better, but the decisions two characters make show that maybe they're growing up after all; and I like that.The film runs 137 minutes and was shot in New England and New York.GRADE: B+

I can't believe I have only just watched this. And, to make matters worse, I very nearly turned it off after about a quarter of an hour. The film is about two couples, both trapped in their own loveless marriages.From the start we get some form of 'narration' from a character never seen in the film. I found this kind of off-putting at first as it tells you what characters are thinking and I thought it was a lazy way at skipping through finding things out about characters as a view. However, this narration basically disappears more and more as the film progresses and, in my opinion, is the right thing to do.The film is long - just over two hours and it gets better and better. Everyone's performance is brilliant and there's little negative to say about it.If you're into adult drama about relationships that are very bittersweet, then this one is for you.Although, be warned, a happy-happy, feel-good movie this is not.Too much like real life.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/