“Per Sylvam ad Astra” blog on katieriegel.com

I was nervous to see this one because In The Bedroom, which was also written and directed by Todd Field and came out back in 2001, truly disturbed me in a real violence sort of way. That’s the worst kind for me. BUT, my devotion to Patrick Wilson combined with the draw of the lovely and talented Kate Winslet made Little Children an opening night must-see with the Tropes.

Now if you’re unaware, Mr. Wilson is a tried and true Broadway boy and for that he gets bonus points without even seeing the movie. I first heard him on an obscure three-song recording of a musical version of Romeo & Juliet, and next came The Full Monty on Broadway, where he succeeded in being both manly and melodic. He played Curly in Oklahoma!, left us for Hollywood to do Angels in America, The Alamo and Phantom and came back to NY briefly in an uninspired revival of Barefoot in the Parkwith Amanda Peet.  He’s also on one of my favorite musical recordings ever as Jamie in Bright Lights, Big City. But it turns out he didn’t need my bonus points. He is EXCELLENT in this movie. His Brad Adamson is confused, sweet, selfish, immature and wholly attractive. He’s a golden boy, literally and figuratively. 

The movie’s about suburbia: a dissatisfied wife/mom (Ms. Winslet) and immature husband/dad (Mr. Wilson) meet cute in a park while they’re taking care of their tots. At first they don’t cheat and it’s innocent and sweet…and then they do. Their scandal scenes are intercut by a plotline about a pedophile who has just been released from prison and a sullied former cop who’s out to make his life hell.

There are a few things I loved about the movie, one being that it is surprisingly funny; two, that the characters are so incredibly complex–no one’s all that likeable and yet no one’s really that terrible; three, that every plot movement manages to be a little quirky or unexpected; and four, that the cast is absolutely fantastic. It’s a quiet movie, with very steady direction and a few genuinely terrifying moments. / Terrifying, in that they show how ridiculous and selfish we can be, and how judgements and decisions that are often made for such fragile reasons can be completely life-altering. Yep, I’m a fan.  

October 9th, 2006
Categories: Film, Theater, Broadway . Author: Katie

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