All the Little Animals (1999)

Wonderful character development!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

"...The second film was about fifty million times more bizarre. It was about a boy called Bobby whose mother, the owner of a prestigious London department store, died after marrying a fat man who was pure evil. Bobby runs away from home after 'the fat' kills his pet mouse peter, and hitches a ride to Cornwall with a family of travellers and an Irish truck-driver. Unfortunately, Bobby tries to take the wheel of the truck and drives it off the road, killing the trucker. He is rescued by an odd hermit who attempts to bury all the roadkill in the county.It then turns out that the hermit is a retired banker who killed his wife and ran off with all the money. He persuades Bobby to go to London to sign over the store to 'the fat' so he can remain living in Cornwall. When they get there, for no apparent reason 'the fat' beats up Mr. Summers (the hermit) and loads him and bobby into an expensive car. 'The fat' drives them to Cornwall, where he forces bobby to dig two graves whilst Mr. Summers dies inside. Before he dies, Mr. Summers encourages Bobby to kill 'the fat', causing bobby to attempt to lure the immense bald man into an abandoned mine shaft. The film closes with him burying the bodies and buying a tent. Excellent. The most random film in the world…but I loved it! How dare the Radio Times give it only three stars!!?" -17th August 2006

I could not sleep one night, and as I was flipping about the channels I happened upon this film. I had missed a few minutes, but hey! It had John Hurt in it, and Christian Bale, and the word "animals" was in the title. I do so like animals, and I loathe it when I accidentally run over one. So, I had to watch.I had just seen (that very evening!) the nothing-special "Reign of Fire" featuring Christian Bale, and I wanted to see if he could act in a better role. And you know what... HE CAN!!! Exceedingly well!! Was this really the same man I had watched earlier in the night? I was instantly taken with his character, so innocent and sweet and wanting only to have his pets to love. And Hurt's character Mr. Summers... now there was a man who had everything straightened out. He knew what his life's task was (to bury roadkill), and he did it without complaint.Then there was the stepfather, known as "The Fat." Rarely have I wanted more to physically attack a film character. What a mean, mean man. Despicable. Loathesome. He made me shudder.I stayed up until 2 am watching this film, and although by this time I was quite tired, I did not at all regret it. After going to bed, I laid awake thinking about it for an hour more. It was one of those films which I did not want to end. I only wish I had seen the first few minutes. Mayhap I will rent this, and watch it whilst more wakeful, with my pet hedgehog on my lap, a cat at my side, and my dog at my feet. I think they'd like it, too.

If you like heart warming movies, see All the Little Animals. It is about a sweet boy named Bobby who is left with his evil step-father after his mother dies. His step-father treats him like an idiot, when really Bobby is just a very tender boy. Bobby finally comes to his senses and escapes into the wilderness, meeting an old animal lover whom he calles Mr. Summers. I won't tell you any more, SEE THE MOVIE!!!

I truly wanted to like this film. I'm a Hurt fan, and the concept appealed to me, but... it just doesn't work.None of the performances are bad, but the plot is silly. Towards the end the implausibility approaches comedy, and this is not helpful.I am not proud to have watched this film.