WHEN ONE GOES TO A MOVIE, WOULD ONE GO TO SEE A MOVIE BASED ON THE TITLE. IF THE ANSWER IS LITTLE CHILDREN, THE TITLE WOULD LEAVE LITTLE TO BE PERCEIVED. LITTLE CHILDREN IS THE TYPE OF MOVIE THAT YOU WOULD GO SEE AFTER READING A REVIEW, WHICH IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE THEN THE NORM. 

LITTLE CHILDREN IS A  FOUR CHARACTER STUDY ABOUT PEOPLE LIVING IN A MASSACHUETTS SUBURB. THE BASIS OF THE FILM IS THE SUBPLOTS. WHEN A MEGANS LAW  SEX OFFENDER MOVES INTO THE TOWN, THE ENSUING RESIDENTS ARE VERY UPSET.  SARAH PIERCE (KATE WINSLET) IS NOT HAPPY. WHEN SHE SPENDS TIME IN THE LOCAL PARK WATCHING HER DAUGHTER LUCY, AND HEARING THE CLAMOR FROM THE SO CALLED BITTIES MAKES SARAH EVEN MORE AGITATED.

WHEN THE "PROM KING" AS THE BITTIES CALL HIM COMES INTO THE PARK WITH HIS SON, SARAH ON A DARE DECIDES TO TALK TO HIM. AFTER GETTING TO KNOW BRAD( PATRICK WILSON)  SHE DECIDES TO START SPENDING SOME TIME WITH HIM.  AS USUAL THINGS HAPPEN, AND THERE ARE INSTANCES WHEN BRADS WIFE JENNIFER CONNELLY THINKS THAT BRAD IS HAVING AN AFFAIR, WHICH SHE CAN NEVER PROVE.  SARAH'S HUSBAND  RICHARD (GREGG EDLEMAN)  IS OBSESSED WITH COMPUTER PORNOGRAPHY, AND LEAVES LITTLE TIME WITH HIS BUSY CAREER FOR SARAH.

WE ALSO HAVE THE ACTIONS OF THE SEXUAL PREDATOR RONNIE (JACKIE EARLE HALEY) CONFLICTING THINGS.  RONNIE IS A CONFUSED MAN, WHO JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE NEEDS TO STAY AWAY FROM LITTLE CHILDREN. 

AND THEN THERE IS LARRY(NOAH EMMERICH) A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WHO IS OBSESSED WITH RONNIE, SO MUCH THAT A TRAGIC INCIDENT IN HIS PUBLIC SERVCE CAREER IS BROUGHT UP, WHICH MAKES THINGS EVEN MORE COMPELLING.

THIS REVIEW IS ONLY A SMALL SAMPLING OF WHAT HAPPENS IN LITTLE CHILDREN. IF I TELL YOU ANY MORE I WILL PROBABLY RUIN IT FOR YOU.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND LITTLE CHILDREN, NOT ONLY FOR THE STRONG PERFORMANCES OF ITS CHARACTERS, BUT THE MOVIE IS A GOOD STORY, ONE THAT YOU DO NOT FIND TO MUCH IN TODAYS HOLLYWOOD.

IT IS TOO BAD THAT THIS FILM, LIKE ALL INDEPENDENT FILMS IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN LIMITED MARKETS. LETS HOPE THAT WITH GOOD WORD OF MOUTH THAT THIS FILM WILL BE AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE, AS THE END OF THE YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING AND THAT MEANS BEST PICTURE.  LITTLE CHILDREN IS ON MY LIST.

             (c) 2006 Brian Gall
 

                          (c) 2006 Brian Gall