Kate Winslet operates at a galaxy-class level in Little Children, Todd Field's gratifyingly grown-up look at unhappy suburbia. Winslet is magnificent, in an Oscar-nominated performance, as a stroller-pushing mom who becomes attracted to a passive househusband (Patrick Wilson). Their slow-burning infidelity (Field wisely allows time to pass in this unhurried film) is contrasted with a more sensational subplot, about a convicted pedophile (Jackie Earle Haley, also Oscar nominated) returning to the neighborhood to live with his mother (Phyllis Somerville). Field, who brought his civilized approach to In the Bedroom, uses a deliberately literary style here, including a device with a narrator who sounds as though he's sitting at our side as he reads from Tom Perotta's novel. (The narrator is a superb touch--his cultivated voice distances us from the sloppy passions of the characters.) The film's biggest miscalculation is a self-appointed neighborhood vigilante (Noah Emmerich) determined to make life miserable for the pedophile. But Wilson is appropriately nebulous, Jennifer Connelly solid as his wife, and Haley (child star of the Bad News Bears movies), as the creepy, childlike molester, found himself rediscovered after a long career layoff. There's decent acting here, but Winslet is in a zone of her own, with so much emotional honesty and subtlety of expression that she transforms a good movie into a must-see. --Robert Horton

Based on the novel by tom perrotta this tells the story of a group of young suburbanites whose lives intersect on the playgrounds town pools & streets of their small community in suprising & potentially dangerous ways. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Starring: Kate Winslet Patrick Wilson Rating: R

A town is terrified by the release from prison of a man who exposed himself to a little girl. The man most vocally concerned has his own dirty secrets, as do many others who are likewise, and rightfully judgmental of the pervert. The director lets us know that despite his punishment, he will behave inappropriately repeatedly. But then again, so will everyone else. It's just that his particular perversion demands an audience.
Others have affairs, conducted largely in front of their children, destroying the fabric of innocent young lives by jeopardizing their family structures. Others demean their wives, or act rashly causing death and destruction. Sometimes the perpetrators of actions which have consequences far more severe than seeing the penis of an exhibitionist go unpunished. While that is true, it doesn't diminish the fear that people have of predators taking advantage of their children.
Putting the story in the midst of the other secrets playing out in a small town in no way diminishes the seriousness of the concern parents should feel. It just makes you feel as if any interaction between people you meet has a dirty underside waiting to happen.
I hated this movie. That said, the acting and direction were superb.

I saw the film and loved it, and then read the book which was terrific and funny. Then, I watched the film again and I saw something different in it this time. Todd Fields (In The Bedroom) has great talent for poetry on film and allowing scenes to play out fully for the actors.

Kate Winslet enlivens this adaption of the novel by Tom Perrotta with a terrific performance. The movie stays remarkably true to the book, leaving out only one sub-plot (and that is a relief).
But the book seemed weightier than the movie. Despite the occasional intervention of a portentious-sounding narrator, very little seems at stake in this fable. In the book, the themes seemed more universal. In the movie, for some reason they appeared fairly petty and routine -- the usual dilemmas of frustrated people struggling to escape the boredom of suburban life and child-rearing.
Apart from Winslet, none of the other actors managed to make me care about them. I watched in a kind of bemused indifference. The sex was not very sexy and the scary, creepy climax at the end not scary or creepy. The movie ultimately just petered out with nothing resolved.
It's also overlong at two hours and seventeen minutes.

This movie definitely made me think. The title "Little Children" is so appropriate as the name of the movie depicts a solid theme that permeates the entire movie.

Just don't watch it with "little children" or any children, for it is made for adults. I found this movie to be well acted, and well made.

The "little children" POINTS that I can see in this movie:

1) The movie cleverly starts out in the McGorvey house, with Ronnie
(the town's child sex offender who exposed himself to a minor) and
his devoted, doting mother, May McGorvey. An elderly woman, May has
all kinds of collectibles in her home--her various clocks are all
ticking away in unison as if to represent that something is going to
happen, something onimous or serious that time will only tell.

She also has on disply her Hummel collection of little, cute
figurine children (as her son, Ronnie, is perversely fixated on the
real thing).

Also May treats Ronnie like he was still her little boy. He calls
her "Mommy" and she calls him "Ronnie". She takes him into her
house, cooks and cleans for him (he never needs to wash a dish),
protects him from the harassing ex-cop (Larry), and even sets up
dates for Ronnie to go on so someone will one day care for her
little boy.

2) Sarah (Kate Winslett), a young wife, and mother of young Lucy, goes
regularly to the local playground with 3 so-called women friends and
their little children.

These women are hypocritcal, judgmental, boring, and unappealing
peers to Sarah. Eventually, they become angry with Sarah and shun
her when she beomes intimate with a local stay-at-home father, Brad
(Patrick Wilson), who is often seen at the same playground. Calling
him "the Prom King", these other mothers fantasize over him,
preferring the mystery of him from afar (as they dare won't approach
him for fear of not being properly brushed and made up). I could see
why Sarah wants to separate herself from them. They need a good
reality check.

Giddy over this guy, like girlish women, one of the mothers even
dares Sarah to get the Prom King's phone number. In turn, Sarah goes
a couple steps further with this bet, sparking an odd, little
encounter that will soon mold itself into a relationship between
the two. Sarah's boldness gives her some triumph as she delights in
seeing the women scatter off to the wind like scared, little girls,
their forbidden fantasies spelled out before there eyes.

3) There are the little children of Sarah,(Lucy), and Brad,(Aaron),
innocently caught up in the entanglement.

4) There is Brad's wife, Kathy, who treats Brad more like a little son
than a wife. She earns the money in the family, so she controls the
finances. She even decides if Brad can have a sell phone and
questions his need to subscribe to a few magazines. It is her
decision, not really his own heart, that sends him off to the
library to study for the bar exam. She also wishes for her adorable,
little boy to sleep in the middle of his parents, so sex is not very
available to Brad.

5) Sarah's husband, Richard, "must" give into his own off-the-wall
fantasies, without the consideration of adult restraint or
consequences. He stumbles upon the internet porn site of "Slutty
Kay", acting out in secret what he wished he could do for real.

Among other kinky things, Slutty Kay loves to dress up like a
provocative, little girl with pigtails and balloons.

6) Larry, the ex-cop, loves to push people around. He is a one-man
committee for concerned parents (because Ronnie is in too close of a
proximity to children for anyone's liking). Ronnie is very messed
up, but like the bully that May McGorvey calls Larry, he
constantly harasses Ronnie, going too far. He also acts like a big
baby when things don't go his way. When Larry is feeling bad about
himself, he will soon direct himself to the McGorvey house to raise
more hell.

One thing that haunts Larry is that he mistakenly shot a teenage boy
while on duty as a policeman.

7) Sarah finds out that her life is not what it should be. College
educated, she now feels like she is playing house to her family
as a restless wife and mother. And life with Brad becomes unreal to
her also, only an unfulfilled fantasy life. She buys into believing
that someone else can rescue her from her unhappy life.
Nevertheless, she makes a choice that will only get more and more
complicated.

8) Brad cannot pass the bar exam, failing twice. He is coaxed by his
wife to study again for it, but he cannot seem to focus. He rather
hang outside the library and watch some teenage skate boarders,
feeling like an outsider to them, yet longing for their
acceptance. "I must have been one of them", he thinks to himself.
Little doe he know that he is trying to reclaim his lost youth.
Feeling inferior to his wife, Sarah puts him on a false
pedestal, and he feels good again.

Brad is irresponsible, not a man of integrity. More like a little
boy, he should not be counted on.

" Little Children " is one of the those rare gems of filmmaking that is a remisniscent of early 70's films. It takes it's time with the unfolding stories and character development. The narraration is outstanding and represents the talents of a phenominal script.
Between the infidelities of two married people , a pedophile , an ex cop , a tormented mother , a work focused wife , and a lonely husband , " Little Children " is weaved together perfectly. So perfect , that I felt compelled to recommend this film on cd now. And I haven't revied a worthwhile film on here , in over a year.
Moreover , all the acting is played superbly by a steller cast of solid actors. The standout performace , for me , was that of " Bad News Bears " actor , Jackie Earle Hayley as the pedophile who recently returned back to live with his mom after a prison stint. The chemistry between Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson is utterly believable and the supporting players , Jennifer Connley , Phillis Somerville , and Greg Edelman add the perfect support, providing a haunting platform for fully charged story telling. I highly recommend this film.
There are various adult situations and strong sexual content , so it's not one for the kids. This isn't a feel good story either , so it's not a good first date movie or something to watch when you're in a great mood. However, " Little Children " provides excellent cinematography , editing , script , directing and acting. Perfect is you like true characer driven films.