Year of Release: 1991
Director: Jodie Foster
Starring: Jodie Foster, Dianne Weist, Adam Hann-Byrd, Harry Connick Jr., David Hyde Pierce, Debi Mazar, Celia Weston, George Plimpton, Josh Mostel, Bob Balaban
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
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Synopsis and Review:
The same year that saw the release of one of her most iconic film roles, Jodie Foster also made her feature directorial debut with "Little Man Tate". The film follows the story of Fred, a young boy with amazing intellectual abilities, who lives with his young single parent mother in New York. His mother Dede is a waitress, and upon noticing his capabilities, allows with some reticence, for him to enroll in a school for the gifted, run by a former child prodigy herself, and now a psychologist, Jane Grierson. While Fred starts socializing a bit more, with both the joys and letdowns that derive from it, he also realizes ultimately where his heart is.
"Little Man Tate" was originally a project to be directed by celebrated director Joe Dante, who ended up vacating the project, allowing Jodie Foster to make her directorial debut. It's a film centered around a character who is clearly intelligent, sensitive and gifted, and yet somehow at odds with the world. The narrative positions itself as if the world doesn't really understand what to do with this unique set of characteristics from the central character. It's a topic that has surfaced in other films throughout Jodie Foster's career as a director, namely "Home for the Holidays" and even "The Beaver". One of the most rewarding aspects of this film, is the quiet assurance and easiness that comes across from all the actors in the situations that Jodie Foster captures so well. She manages to create this universe, filtered through the eyes of a gifted child, who yearns to be loved, accepted and just be part of everything. All the central performances make this film a treasure to be watched, with Foster, Dianne Weist, Adam Hann-Byrd and Harry Connick Jr., all successfully creating more than just two dimensional archetypes. The cinematography from Mike Southon is effective as is the jazzy score from Mark Isham. A great directorial debut from a terrific actor/director.
"Little Man Tate" was originally a project to be directed by celebrated director Joe Dante, who ended up vacating the project, allowing Jodie Foster to make her directorial debut. It's a film centered around a character who is clearly intelligent, sensitive and gifted, and yet somehow at odds with the world. The narrative positions itself as if the world doesn't really understand what to do with this unique set of characteristics from the central character. It's a topic that has surfaced in other films throughout Jodie Foster's career as a director, namely "Home for the Holidays" and even "The Beaver". One of the most rewarding aspects of this film, is the quiet assurance and easiness that comes across from all the actors in the situations that Jodie Foster captures so well. She manages to create this universe, filtered through the eyes of a gifted child, who yearns to be loved, accepted and just be part of everything. All the central performances make this film a treasure to be watched, with Foster, Dianne Weist, Adam Hann-Byrd and Harry Connick Jr., all successfully creating more than just two dimensional archetypes. The cinematography from Mike Southon is effective as is the jazzy score from Mark Isham. A great directorial debut from a terrific actor/director.
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