Little Children (2006)

Adults with child like naivety.

After the Oscars were presented on Monday morning, I was pretty disappointed. Firstly, I was puzzled how The Departed won the Best Picture award. It is good, no doubt, but it is definitely not Scorsese's best work. I thought Little Miss Sunshine deserved the award. It is a simple movie that simply makes you cry, laugh and cry again all in two hours.

Secondly, which relates more to this review, is Jackie Earle Harley losing his Best Supporting Actor award to Alan Arkin. Harley's role as a sex offender is nothing short of amazing. His performance is one of the reasons why this movie is named Little Children.

The story Little Children tells the tale about a group of adults living in a small neighborhood. Though they are adults, they still have the cravings and desires like a nine year old craves for sweets; only the objects of attraction here are not sweets but something darker and more sinister. Sarah (Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is a lonely and unattractive housewife who takes a liking for the charming house husband, Brad (Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy). Meanwhile, Ronnie (Jackie Earle Harley) a former sex offender moves back to the neighborhood and causes much hoo hah among the community. Larry (Noah Emmerich) an ex police officer with a troubled past is stalking Ronnie, thinking that he is still capable of committing those heinous crimes against kids. Everyone here has an object of fantasy going on in their minds. The problem is, will those fantasies turn sour and destroy the serenity of the neighborhood?

Based on a novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, Little Children explores the darker side of humans. Adults are fully capable of behaving like little kids; yearning for something so much that they pursue it without thinking much about the consequences, even though the consequences can be destructive not only to them but also the ones around them. Its as though the kids have exchanged identities and roles with the adults. With a witty running narration, it seems like the narrator is explaining the story to the audience, as though it is too difficult and profound for them to comprehend. Overall it is a good simple story but the running time can be shorter (130 mins).

What is your ultimate fantasy? Dream all you want but remember this: reality bites.

3.5
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