Little Children

Little Children

Directed by: Todd Field

Starring: Kate Winslet

Genre: Drama

Run Time: 130 min.

Release Date: November 2006

On The Web: Official Site

Teaser: Movie Trailer

Reviewed by Byron Merritt

Like Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening in Sam Mendes’ AMERICAN BEAUTY, director Todd Field’s (STRANGER THAN FICTION) latest take on American suburbia hits hard the great flaws that define the human condition of our current generation. Replacing Spacey and Bening this time, though, are Kate Winslet (THE HOLIDAY) and Patrick Wilson (HARD CANDY).

Bored nearly to catatonia, Sarah Pierce (Winslett) finds the affections of Brad Adamson (Wilson) pretty much irresistible. Brad, a stay at home dad with an overbearing wife (played by Jennifer Connelly, DARK WATER), visits the local playground with his young son, much to the excitement of the stroller-pushing mothers in the area (he’s quite the hunk.) As he and Sarah’s relationship grows, they do more and more to hide it from their friends and family. Sarah also begins to despise taking care of her own child, while Brad feels the guilt of what he’s doing to his family (not to mention his multiple failures to pass the bar exam.)

When Brad and Sarah decide to leave their spouses (and maybe even their kids), the trauma is physical and emotional. Both realize that they’re acting like “little children,” not taking life serious enough. But at the same time both want to act that way, to be young again, reclaim their youth, be more vibrant. Brad realizes he can’t do it after a skull-crunching skateboard accident, while Sarah’s inherent mothering instincts take over when her little girl disappears during a late night rendevous with Brad.

Surrounding these two are their friends, family, neighbors, and a recently paroled child stalker named Ronnie (Jackie Earle Haley). It is Ronnie that gives the entire film its much needed impact, for every scene he’s in contains moments of sheer disgust and parental horror (his masturbatory behavior outside a playground will be enough to send shivers up one’s spine). And it is his activities that ends up tearing at the fabric of Brad and Sarah’s doomed, adulteress relationship.

Although the storyline mimicked much of the aforementioned American Beauty, the story itself was exceptionally slow. Not much happens during the first 3/4 of the film, which makes yawning a frequent occurrence. But persistent viewers will be rewarded by the punctuated ending, and the exceptionally great character portrayal of Ronnie by the revoltingly perfect Mr. Haley.