Little Children (1 Viewer)

[AlleyCat]

Pretty amazing film.

Didn't really get what all the hype about Winslett was (although she looked so fit in this movie, amazing) but the paedophile, played by Jackie Earle Haley, was one of the best performances I think I have seen in ages. I've never seen another movie with him in it, but something about his face reminded me of Pete Postlethwaite...only ultra creepy.

I liked how it told the story through the narration, and also liked the premise of the film, and especially liked the dark humour.

Spoiler

When Ronnie goes to the pool and all the children suddenly exit the water, standing around the pool glaring at him...I was laughing my head off because it reminded me of Jaws.

While Tod Solondz's (sp) Happiness also attempted to derive humour from child abuse, in my opinion this did a better job, most of Happiness was just too dark for me, I hated myself for laughing on the rare occasion I did.

The supporting characters were fantastic, particularly Larry and Ronnie's mother (who I know I've seen somewhere before).

Most of the scenes with Patrick Wilson, however, I missed because I was too busy picturing/realising that with a toupee/hair plugs, he would be hands down the best looking man ever.

KW also got skinny, but looks good for it.
I strongly strongly dislike Jennifer Connelly, so I just pretended she wasn't in it and her part was played by Rachel Weiss instead.

4/5

 

[icecreamdisco]

eh, i thought haley looked the part but that's about it. winslet was great and deserved her oscar nod; that scene where she breaks down in the car after seeing connelly's character (cypher, more like it) for the first time is so wonderfully played that i was almost able to overlook that we're in some netherworld where winslet is considered ugly and connelly circa now is the ideal to which all women should aspire. bizzarro.

anyway, i'm getting sick of the 'suburban malaise' genre, and this film didn't do much to change that. apparently, the 'burbs aren't as innocent as they appear to be! *rolls eyes*

at least this didn't take it's angst too seriously. *cough*thumbsucker*cough* and it was pretty funny too. still, meh. 2.5/5

I strongly strongly dislike Jennifer Connelly, so I just pretended she wasn't in it and her part was played by Rachel Weiss instead.

lawlz. i actually did that with rachel weisz (who i usually like/wanna hump) in the fountain. except i pretended it was old footage of anna karina.

 

[AlleyCat]

eh, i thought haley looked the part but that's about it. winslet was great and deserved her oscar nod; that scene where she breaks down in the car after seeing connelly's character (cypher, more like it) for the first time is so wonderfully played that i was almost able to overlook that we're in some netherworld where winslet is considered ugly and connelly circa now is the ideal to which all women should aspire. bizzarro.

lawlz. i actually did that with rachel weisz (who i usually like/wanna hump) in the fountain. except i pretended it was old footage of anna karina.

Jennifer Connelly is as stiff as a board. I cannot believe she is an oscar winner...To me, she is the exact type of actress that sulks, broods and preens her way through films and wins endless accolades for it, and I hate it!

I didn't really think KW was supposed to be "ugly", she simply wasn't Brad's type. Plenty of people I have spoken to about this movie seized on the fact that "SHe wasn't UGLY!" but I don't think that short segment of narration was supposed to be all that meaningful, more outlining the fact that Brad was attracted to her for an elusive reason.

PS Why is it that whenever anyone mentions Anna Karina I immediately feel like a cigarette?

 

[icecreamdisco]

i like connelly, but she admittedly doesn't have much range. which is OK as long as she picks roles that play to her strengths (mainly the ability to look perpetually in need of prozac), which she thankfully does most of the time. i'll give her credit for giving dark water far more gravitas than it deserved.

i haven't seen that pic of karina before. yummmmmmmmmm...

 

[AlleyCat]

Karina is arguably the best looking woman in human history: past, present and future.

Jennifer Connelly IMHO is a stoic, cardboard woman who has three expressions and a whiny-McWhine voice.

That being said, she was OK in 'House of Sand and Fog'.

EDIT:
I just looked up GRAVITAS in the dictionary, it's my word of the day now. <3