The FiFi Report 156

Little Children…directed by Todd Field
Based on: ‘Actor-turned-director Todd Field follows up his Oscar-nominated drama, IN THE BEDROOM, with this ambitious adaptation of Tom Perrotta’s celebrated novel’Genre: “Little Children is a movie that defies easy categorization. It’s not quite a drama, not quite a love story, not quite a black comedy but rather a little of all three rolled together” Daily Mirror [UK]
Who: Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly.
The Plot: 2006 Boston. Bored numb-to-life housewife and mother finds husband wanking with undies on his face over porn sites. Ewww. She heads to Kiddies playground. Meets handsome and very buffed house husband. He is studying for the law exam. Decides to study her instead. Start mad passionate affair. His wife is perfect. She is not. Meanwhile Kooky and creepy pedophile who lives with elderly mother lurks at the local swimming pool. Becomes creepier. Becomes even more creepier. Bad things happen. Love affair continues. Hot steamy sex. Wife becomes suspicious. More creepy things happen. Will love find a way? The end
Acting: “Clearly one of the best of the year with multiple Oscar-caliber performances, especially by the brilliant Kate Winslet.” tonymedley.com. “ As the deranged and tortured Ronald, Jackie Earle Haley is appallingly creepy, meaning he’s perfect. His unstable character lingers in your mind. While you’re watching, he seems to be a dirty bomb of perverse violence” Arizona Daily Star. “The main reason to watch is Winslet, who brings flesh-and-blood dimension to Perrotta’s central character”. Daily News.
Photography: Fabulous and quirky especially the underwater shots at local swimming pool
Design: It’s American suburbia: Kate Winslet’s house is all American over done Chintz. Nothing to drool over.
Wardrobe: Not remarkable. It’s all boring suburban Jeans, tops and dresses.
Salon de Beaute: Kate Winslet is bare faced, fresh and lovely. Jennifer Connelly as the wronged wife has lot of black eyeliner and slick hair and looks gorgeous. Botox: Kate Winslet: No.Jennifer Connelly: Yes. FIFi: Huge dose to get through all the creepy bits
Waterproof Mascara: This is bitingly funny and darkly humourous. Like your mascara. A few applications should do the trick.
Bloodnguts: There is one scene when it is a close your eyes or you will see a lot of blood scenario
Mind drifted to shopping: when the guys play American football. Boring
Smokin’ smooches: Hot! Hot! Hot!
Car chases. Not really
Rename It: Love, Pain and the Whole Damned Thing
Best Review: “Todd Fields’ superb film adaptation of the novel by Tom Perrotta result is challenging, accessible and hard to stop thinking about” .A.O. Scott, New York Times OR “ Impressively directed, sharply written and beautifully shot drama with superb performances from the entire cast.” ViewLondon
Best Worst Review: “ Sexual deviates become heroes. This film is excrement on celluloid” .Outtakes With Fiore
See it or donate to the Prada Bag fund? Intelligent, stylish, with a penetrating and very amusing almost sardonic look at life: it’s Miuccia Prada to a T !
http://www.littlechildrenmovie.com/