little children

no.35 Little Children

It seems like every week I'm talking about adaptations. It's interesting when a film's screenwriter is also the author of the novel...and there are significant changes. First, you have to wonder if it was just a "well, we really liked your input, so we'll give you a credit" kind of credit. Those also fall under the "we changed your book enough so we'll give you a credit not to hurt your feelings." I guess there's also the "the option on your book really didn't pay enough, so we'll give you a credit with some back end" credit.

We can posit a million different ways Tom Perlotta played into the making of Little Children. I guess I'm trying to understand the changes that were made since he "had a hand" in the screenplay. They weren't horrible changes, just enough to make you wonder.

Again, this made the second time in a week I saw Patrick Wilson naked. Granted, he was really buff in LC, whereas he gained 25lbs of pure fat to make Dan Dreiberg look a little bloated...although his ass still looked pretty damn good.

This also marked the second appearance by Jackie Earle Haley, is an Oscar nominated role. His part wasn't huge and much more childlike than the novel portrayed. Little or not, he sold the sad pedophile. In the book, he hid the fact that he murdered a girl, but they only brought out the public exposure here, which was enough for everyone to hate him. It's Hollywood, even for an indie, and they gave his little boy a big ending. WHOA.

As always, Kate Winslet is superb. I love her, just love her. I think she is the most beautiful and talented actress of our generation, hands down, no competition. Screw Meryl, Kate will surpass her, I'll put money on it.