Little Children

     Sarah Pierce is married to an advertising executive in New England and they have a young daughter.  She feels her days are long, she can’t seem to connect with her daughter and she feels her marriage is lacking love.  Brad Adamson sometimes comes to the park with his young son and they also go to the pool.  He’s supposedly studying every night at the library to retake the bar exam but he hasn’t gone all summer and his wife makes documentaries.  Brad is a husband and dad but he can’t quite seem to grasp adulthood.  Sarah and Brad meet at the park and they start meeting at the pool with their children.  Sarah has a master’s degree in literature, she is just very happy to have adult conversation and to have someone listen to her.  Ronnie is a convicted child molester living in the neighborhood and everyone is afraid of him and talking about him.  Larry has retired from the police force because of PSTD, he’s been kicked out of his house by his wife and his only purpose in life at the moment is to torment Ronnie. 

     There are a lot of plots going here at once and they are sorted out by soothing voice-over narration to keep us straight.  Think James Earl Jones but not quite as deep voiced.  There are unexpected twists of resolution at the end.  3* (This movie is OK)

136 min Drama directed by Todd Field with Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley, Noah Emmerich, Gregg Edelman, Phyllis Somerville, Raymond J. Barry, Jane Adams.

Note:  Imdb 7.6 out of 10, 80% critic 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*.