Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson

Little Children centers on a group of young marrieds, whose lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways.

Flixster Users

79% liked it

25,540 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

151 critics

R, 2 hrs. 10 min.

Directed by: Todd Field

Release Date: October 6, 2006

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DVD Release Date: May 1, 2007

Stats: 8,119 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (8,119)


  • August 3, 2009
    this movie is kinda fucked up but it really draws you in. you catch yourself in the mood for a slow film i recommend this one. Its actually one of the best films i ever seen
  • May 1, 2009
    I love it when I put on a film expecting a good time passer and I find out it's so much more. Little Children is one of the best surprises.

    The best way to describe this story is that it's a look at a community and the way they live their life, with situations changing due to th...( read more)e release of a sex offender into said community.

    To anyone who has seen this film and wonders why the children the title speaks of seem to be props and not characters in their right, I propose this theory: having not read the book, I can only go by what the film offers. Perhaps the little children of the title are the main and supporting characters. We have Sarah Pierce (Kate Winslet, who just goes from strength to strength, and makes us forget about that movie with the sinking boat which was overrated), a housewife frustrated with her husband and who has little love for her own child; Brad Adamson (Patrick Wilson, who I really have to keep looking for updates on whatever he's working on as he has a presence that enhances a film), a househusband who can't find the motivation to take the bar exam again, preferring to watch skateboarders and find comfort in the arms of Sarah (more on that later); Larry Hedges (Noah Emmerich, who is arguably the antagonist of this film), a disgraced former cop who bullies the sex offender (Jackie Earle Haley, who is DAMN good in this role), who's just trying to live his life (again, we'll come back to him)

    Along with the supporting women who play the mothers of the children seen in the playground/pool scenes, most of the main characters seem to regress to child-like ideas in order to keep themselves going. Some have ideas of running away with their lovers, some bully and harass citizens and others act like hypocrites and suggest their way of life is better.
    Of course, I could just be over-analyzing and it's about the sex offender and the concerns over the children. Or both.

    Normally, I am against the idea of people cheating on their loved ones. You can use any excuse you want, be it not being treated right or that your spouse is cheating on you and you're getting revenge, I don't care. You want to sleep with someone else, date someone else, you end things with the person you're seeing. This is perhaps the only film in which I actually sympathize with those doing the cheating (though this is not without precedent. BJ Hunnicutt had a one night stand on M*A*S*H but he felt terrible about it and never strayed again. Not making excuses, not defending him, but it's hard to hate BJ. It's like hating puppies, it's unthinkable)
    Sarah and Brad are yearning for more out of their lives, they want to be with people who devote their time to each other. They have a connection, and their kids get along. So it seems like a match. But as we all know, things aren't always so smooth in the world of passion.
    Patrick and Kate really have great chemistry together and I'd love to see them reunite for a future project.

    Now let's talk about Jackie Earle Haley's character, Ronald McGorvey. Treated as the town pariah, he is oddly enough, one of the few people who's actually trying to better himself. Like I said before, no defense here, but he just wants to be left alone and wants to reintegrate back into society.
    He's moved back in with his mother, and tries hard not to succumb to temptation. What he does towards the end I will not spoil, but it's ironic to me that the one person trying to change for the better is the one vilified as the monster. Jackie Earle Haley did magnificent in this role, and hopefully now that he and Patrick have been in Watchmen, his profile will improve

    If there is one thing I have to put down, it's the narration. It's not bad, but I have to wonder why it's needed as the narrator seemingly has nothing to do with the story and seems to be Mr. Exposition for the thoughts and feelings of our characters. Yes, they aren't entirely obvious from the body language but why is a stranger telling us what they're thinking?

    Rarely if ever do I see people talking about this film. It's been overlooked and that's just wrong. I hope more people see it, I found it quite powerful.
  • March 19, 2009
    Todd Field delivers a detailed study of adult suburban life, but only occasionally rises the material to greatness. There are too many moments that scream "do-you-get-the-symbolism?" But apart from that, a very good adaptation and great performances by Kate Winslet and Jackie E...( read more)arle Haley.
  • January 27, 2009
    Sensationalism and pseudo indie feel helps to sell movies despite a rather inane content, but it doesn't really do anything to me.
    The narration causes fatigue and doesn't really contribute to anything important, aside from very brief keen examinations.
    Jackie Earle Haley's chara...( read more)cter should have been explored deeper. He and his mother (Phyllis Sommerville) play the most interesting parts of the whole.
  • October 28, 2008
    I didn't get the full intended impact from this because I think the editin wasn't too good. I'd have liked a punchier adaptation without too much emotional downtime.
  • November 7, 2009
    One of my favourite movies ever!! Reminds me of happiness, maybe because of the scene with Jane Adams. This movie has it all, great storyline(s), good camerawork, good acting. The characters are well crafted, only I wanted to see more of jane. I can recommend it to everyone who w...( read more)ants to see a serious movie.
  • October 29, 2009
    watch dis movie its a good one.
  • October 23, 2009
    Wasn't expecting anything but was a nice surprise. Jackie Earle Haley is brilliant, he really improved the narrative.
  • October 14, 2009
    Entertaining enough... About following your dreams... or do we?
  • September 29, 2009
    Lots of naughty, behind their spouses' backs sex.

Critic Reviews


January 4, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

A beautifully observed, profoundly moving tale of suburban malaise. full review

October 20, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Filled with moments of painful revelation, real comedy and emotional insight. full review

October 9, 2006
Pete Hammond, Maxim

As raw, rich and edgy as it gets. full review

October 6, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Every character except the kids is severely flawed, but so deep are the roots Perrotta has created that you wish everyone well -- even the sex offender. full review

October 5, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

An engaging tale of middle-class suburbia, with its attendant fears, yearnings and rushes to judgment. full review

October 5, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Unnervingly funny and quietly devastating. full review

October 2, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

As Little Children skitters along, it gathers weight, like a snowball, until it finally knocks you cold. full review

September 28, 2006
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Todd Fields' superb film adaptation of the novel by Tom Perrotta result is challenging, accessible and hard to stop thinking about.

September 24, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

In requiring only passivity from its audience, whom it shovel-feeds faux-erudite lessons, it's the Academy Award-baiting version of Don't Ask, Just Tell cinema. full review

View more Little Children reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • fategirl80
    August 26, 2009
    I have Little Children on tape and I liked Little Children. Little Children is my favorite Patrick Wilson and kate Winslet movie.
  • wwwfrancie1
    July 17, 2007
    OMG, this is the best movie i've seen since....last week. No really this one was really good!
  • badtzmemm
    June 5, 2007
    This is a great movie option if you like dramas.. And still, for me it wasnt that dramatic as many others.

    Is a great movie, and deserves to be watched. Kate Winslet looks so differet from all her previous characters, and Patrick Wilson gave the size to be side by side with Kate and Jennifer Conolley, that eventough her rol is short, she looks amazing and beautiful as well.. Great actress.
    But the interesting for me was the director idea for the adaptation. It has great sequences, i mean, isnt boring, and has beautiful shots and stills..

    The end of the several histories and characters that developed in the whole world around Sarah (Winslet) and Brad (Wilson) is great. It really left me a really nice flavor, is not dumb and obvious. And i felt my heart pumping on the last scene..

    Really good option if youre into this kind of movies, and not regullar and none-sence movies..

  • elbakrameR
    October 8, 2006
    I think this is from the novel by the guy who wrote "Election", Tom Perrotta. I read that book earlier this summer.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Little Children Trivia


  • "Oh! What a cute little chair. Why, there's seven little chairs. Must be seven little children. And from the look of this table, seven untidy little children."   Answer »
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