Little Children DVD Review

"Little Children" reviews

DVD

Little Children

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2007-05-11 15:01:04

Provider

DVD Review

Director Todd Field's (In The Bedroom) offers his boldest film to date which doesn't shirk from murder, mutilation, adultery, internet porn and paedophilia.

The suburb in which the film is set is home to a sex offender, the perfectly creepy Ronald (Jackie Earle Haley), who is ostracised when, having served two years for flashing at a child, he goes swimming with the local kids.

Ronald is harassed by ex-cop Larry (Noah Emmerich), who, it transpires, has a secret of his own. Then again, in this seemingly staid community, everyone but everyone is a hypocrite. Take Sarah (Kate Winslet in an Oscar nominated role) and Brad (Patrick Wilson), two unfulfilled young parents who are married to the wrong people. After a summer spent lounging at the local pool they embark on a relationship, prompted by Kate's realisation that her husband (Gregg Edelman) is prone to playing with himself while viewing the Slutty Kay website.

Combining melodrama with humour is a precarious balancing act, but Little Children manages the delicate balancing act of combining hard-hitting drama with humour and even when scenes don't quite work, the attempt is always admirable.