LITTLE CHILDREN: My Review

"We couldn't change the past, but the future could be a different story. And it has to start somewhere."

- Will Lyman (ending narration), LITTLE CHILDREN

The film, based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, stars Kate Winslet(Sara), Patrick Wilson (Brad), and Jennifer Connelly (Kathy). It centers on the lives of people living in a certain village and how they get entangled in lies, deception, betrayal, and fear among others.

Sara (an English Literature major who is short of a dissertation to earn her doctoral degree) is wife to Richard, a brand executive at an advertising agency. Unknown to Sara, her husband has been spending most of his time (both at work and at home) peeping through a porn site. And when she finally caught him in the act, she decided to take matters to her hands by trying to get even. She immediately purchased a sexy halter bathing suit to catch the attention of a guy she met (and actually kissed) a few days ago.

That guy is Brad, a two-time bar flunker, who brings his son Aaron to the playground everyday. That is where he and Sara met, for Sara does the same to her daughter Lucy (bring her to the playground that is). At night, Brad is sent by his wife Kathy (who does documentaries) to the library nearby to study for the upcoming bar exams. But in the past weeks, Brad never did, for he satisfied himself watching a group of teenage boys skateboarding.

One thing led to another, and as expected, Brad and Sara found themselves sexually attracted to each other. The rest, as they say, is history!

But it doesn't end there. The film, although titled LITTLE CHILDREN, is actually not for kids. The setting of the story is a village plagued with fear of a pervert, Ronnie, (Jackie Earle Haley), who was recently released from prison. Of course, this created tension among the homeowners, especially the time when they discovered Ronnie at the town pool, swimming together with their children.

The film ends with Sara returning to her home and Brad in the hospital (after a near running away from their respective families), and Ronnie castrating himself after his mother died.

Dark, poignant, somehow disturbing, but the film is a good diversion to the romantic comedy films I have seen lately. After her great performances in Finding Neverland and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I believe Kate Winslet again did a spectacular performance. Jackie Haley was undoubtedly a scene-stealer in the entire film, and also worthy of all the awards he got from this role.

Academy Award nominations:
• Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Kate Winlset)
• Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Jackie Earle Haley)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Todd Field and Tom Perrotta)