Little Man Tate (1991)

76% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(14,455 ratings)

Jodie Foster made her directorial debut (with a script by Scott Frank) in this tale of a child prodigy's search for social acceptance. Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a precocious fourth grader who has no problem with the most complex mathematical problems or in banging out a Rachmaninoff concerto on… More Jodie Foster made her directorial debut (with a script by Scott Frank) in this tale of a child prodigy's search for social acceptance. Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a precocious fourth grader who has no problem with the most complex mathematical problems or in banging out a Rachmaninoff concerto on the piano, but is totally inept at playing baseball or dealing with children his own age. His mother Dede (Jodie Foster) is a cocktail waitress who acts more like a child than Fred, but cares passionately about her son. Fred comes to the attention of child psychologist Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest), who runs a summer camp for child prodigies called Odyssey of the Mind. She invites Fred to attend the summer session, creating a rift between Fred and Dede. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Jodie Foster
Written By: Lynzee Klingman
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Oct 9, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Sep 4, 2001
Studio: Orion Home Video

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Well meaning but too similistic and earnest melodrama that juxtaposes two types philosophies of how to raise a brilliant kid
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A triumphant debut as a film director for Jodie Foster in a captivating tale about a pint-sized genius.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Foster displays a great touch in her directorial debut
Dan Lybarger, Lawrence Journal-World
Cute, if not terribly substantial.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Wahida K

An awesome Movie I ll never forget.
Lady D

I find stories of such genius? quite fascinating. Finding the balance between mental stimulation and having a ?normal? childhood for a child prodigy is a struggle.
Candy R

Heart warming movie about relations between singel mom and son.
Dean M

Jodie Foster's debut film as director is a delightful, bitter-sweet tale of an ill-educated single mother with a child prodigy for a son. Fascinating for its insight into such children, the film's also frequently funny.
Leigh R

Fantastic film.
Todd S

There's something so amazing but also so sad at the same time. This film really showed you how much someone with a special gift has to give up, just to remain special. The story was great, but as a movie it was choppy and jumped around a lot leaving many things unfinished.… More
There's something so amazing but also so sad at the same time. This film really showed you how much someone with a special gift has to give up, just to remain special. The story was great, but as a movie it was choppy and jumped around a lot leaving many things unfinished. Entertaining and worth watching? Yes. One of the best films I've seen? No.
Bill C

The feeling of balancing being exceptionally gifted balanced with getting on with everyday life is very well captures in Jodie Foster's directitorial debut. Of interest to anyone who has ever been shod with the yoke of banality when all they want to do is move forward. Adam… More
The feeling of balancing being exceptionally gifted balanced with getting on with everyday life is very well captures in Jodie Foster's directitorial debut. Of interest to anyone who has ever been shod with the yoke of banality when all they want to do is move forward. Adam Hann-Byrd works like an inigma which draws the audience deeper into his plight to fit into his place in the world. Diane Weist cannot make a bad movie. The movies only flaw is that Fosters even handed balancing act with the plethora of well developed characters detracts from the arc of the story, like a mobile(sculpture) with symmetrical parts, the detracts from the sense of the kinetic nature.
Leo L

Great movie! Love it.
Ina S

Touching, solidly made - just a tad too melodramatic.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jodie Foster as Dede Tate

            Adam Hann-Byrd as Fred Tate

            Dianne Wiest as Dr. Jane Grierson

            Harry Connick Jr. as Eddie

            David Hyde Pierce as Garth

            Debi Mazar as Gina

            P.J. Ochlan as Damon Wells

            George Plimpton as Winston F. Buckner

            Alexandra Auder as Eddie's Girlfriend

            John Bell as Joey X.

            Ishe Costa as Cherry Reynolds

            Richard Fredette as Bartender

            Elizabeth Frietsch as "Livewire" Girl Guest

            Gordon Greene as Fred's Doctor

            Richard Hanson as 1st Odyssey of the Mind Leader

            Michael Keavey as Auctioneer

            Carolyn Lawrence as Sorority Girl

            Alex Lee as Fred Tate-Age 2

            Nathan Lee as Matt's Teammate

            Mark Lienhart as Fenton

            Michael Mantell as Coral Bay Owner

            Ellen McElduff as Make-Up Woman

            Adam Midkiff as Evan

            Chucky Ocampo as Bob Yee

            Sheadrick Richards as "Livewire" Boy Guest

            Michael Shulman as Matt Montini

            Lauren Ashley Stacey as Valerie

            Erica Staton as Girl Outside Classroom

            Jennifer Trier as Grierson Institute Teacher

            Danitra Vance as Clinic Doctor

            Celia Weston as Miss Nimvel

            Barry Williams as Preppy Guy in Cafeteria

            Sam Womelsdorf as Eddie's Roommate

            Mar Ya Zuke as 2nd Odyssey of the Mind Leader

            Bob Balaban as Quizmaster (uncredited)

            Josh Mostel as Physics Professor

            George S. Kaufman as Eddie's Friend
See full cast

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