Little Children

Little Children (2006) starring Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly, Noah Emmerich and Jackie Earle Haley.

So before...what was I expecting from the film? I had heard comparisons to Madame Bovery...a kind of sexual awakening story set in American suburbia and because of this I feared that maybe they were trying too hard with what they were attempting to do. The cast looked brilliant, especially having seen both Wilson and Earle Haley recently in Watchmen. I was very excited to see Earle Haley play a paedophile, looking back at what I've just written that sounds so very wrong, but because I have so much respect for him as an actor I was excited for what he was going to do with the character. So all in all, although I had my doubts, I was feeling excited about this film and the potential that it had.

Sarah Pierce (Winslet) is in a loveless marriage, long days with her young daughter at the park and the pool, wanting more. Brad Adamson (Wilson) is a househusband, married to a flinty documentary filmmaker (Connelly). Ronnie (Earle Haley) is just out of prison - two years for indecent exposure - living with his mother; Larry (Emmerich) is a retired cop, fixated on driving Ronnie away. Sarah and Brad connect, a respite of adult companionship at the pool. Ronnie and Larry have their demons. Brad should be studying for the bar; Larry misses his job; Ronnie's mom thinks he needs a girlfriend. Sarah longs to refuse to be trapped in an unhappy life.

The plot summary that I have given for this film is in some ways not as detailed as some that I give but I do not want to spoil the movie. In previous plot summaries I fear I may have given too much away. So from now on I will be more courteous to my readers! :)

With all the potential I was expecting from it I was nearly reduced to tears, however, when the first thing I heard in the film was a voice-over. This is often the kiss of death for films, very few get the commentary right and therefore it turns it into a total mess, which was very worrying. BUT this film pulls it off brilliantly. The voice over is both funny, interesting and at times very poigniant.

The acting was fantastic, with Earle Haley coming out on top by far. His performance as Ronnie is incredible, as not only does he draw out disgust from the audience but he manages to balance that with sympathy. He is an incredible actor and I look forward now to any film that he is in, especially Nightmare on Elm Street, his turn as Freddie Krueger could be a seminal performance.

The children in the movie also do it brilliantly, with Sadie Goldstein, who plays Lucy Pierce, standing out. Her role in the film ties in directly with the psyche of her mother drawing out the feelings that she has.

Overall I was highly impressed with the film. Both the acting and plot were fantastic. Winslet and Wilson carry the film very well with Earle Haley deserving numerous nominations that he got for his role. It is only a shame that he did not get any of the awards he was nominated for. This is a real thought provoking piece that pulls you in many different ways. Well worth a watch, if only just for Earle Haley's performance.