Contents
Reviews
How
Discs Are Rated
#
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
News
Archives
DVD
Guide
Contest
Video
Game Reviews
About
DVDlaunch
Meet
The Staff
Contact
|
Click above to purchase "Little Man Tate" at
amazon.com
Little Man Tate
review by Zach B.
Rated PG
Studio: MGM
Running Time: 99 minutes
Starring Jodie Foster, Diane Wiest, Adam Hann-Byrd,
David Hyde Pierce, Debi Mazar, Harry Connick Jr.
Written by Scott Frank
Directed by Jodie Foster
Retail Price: $29.98
Features: Audio Commentary with Jodie Foster,
Theatrical Trailer
Specs: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, English Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround, French Stereo Surround, Spanish Stereo
Surround, English Closed Captions, French Subtitles, Spanish
Subtitles, Scene Selections (16 Scenes)
Jodie Foster makes her film directorial debut with
"Little Man Tate," a superb film that is finely crafted and
expertly told through its story and style. The movie finds
little Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd), a child genius who is
bored with his school work, picked on by others and feels
very lonely and depressed. Young Fred is a master of the
piano, an incredible artist and can instantly understand and
answer questions relating to math and science. Fred is soon
caught in a tug-of-war battle of sorts between his mother,
Dede (Foster herself) and a psychologist named Jane (Diane
Wiest). Dede fails to really realize what Fred has and
doesn't do much to expand his talents, while Jane wants to
push him forward and give him the best of his mind. However,
in this character study, we soon come to realize that Fred
doesn't care of what may lie ahead of him and what he can do
with his mind, all that Fred wants is to be happy and have
friends.
There is just so much to this movie, I can seriously go
on and on about it as it does features so much. I am a
sucker for these kinds of films, and if as I mentioned in
past reviews, I really enjoy them no matter how good or bad
they are. I really like what they bring with them and I
basically eat them up, I really become engrossed and
involved. Not all of them succeed on all levels, but when
they are so well throught out, crafted and made I enjoy them
tremendously and seriously find myself watching them over
and over again. With its true themes, its strong messages
and its well-developed characters, "Little Man Tate"
accomplishes so much that so many other films try to and
strive to be but never will be in the long run. There is a
lot to cover and I can just rave on and on, so I suppose
I'll start where it begins, that being with Scott Frank's
extrodinary script. He creates quite a story that is filled
with rich characters, marvelous dialogue and a story that
doesn't go over the top and rings with much truth. It's
amazing how this story creates tension by implying it of
sorts. Sure, we do see it between Dede and Jane emotionally
through their words and actions, but there's a good focus on
Fred being caught in all of this. Fred struggles
emotionally. Fred really does not care about his mental
status or what he can do, he wants to be normal. He doesn't
want to be alone or special. All that Fred wants is a friend
and for people to like him. Still, the conflict that Dede
and Jane has shows Jane pulling Fred along for exploitment
and to take advantage of his mind, while Dede doesn't really
understand and wants a normality to him. Still, in the movie
Fred learns to find himself. The film has a great structure,
necessary characters no matter how small or big their roles
are and finally, just a lot of great themes and morals in it
all.
I mentioned that this was Jodie Foster's directorial
debut, and she certainly does a wonderful job with this film
taking Frank's script and developing it to the absolute
core. She sets the film at a great pace so it moves fast and
appropriatley, she really knows how to take a movie like
this and set it up. She approaches the film carefully and
really takes advantage of what it has to offer. She has a
nice style visually too, and again, really knows how to work
this movie. Her directing skills are mighty impressive, and
she's just as talented off camera as she is on. Foster also
tops the movie off with good editing, a fine jazzy score
from Mark Isham and her own personal human touches.
Another thing which makes the movie fly is the acting.
Whatever happened to Adam Hann-Byrd? His performance in this
movie is really nice and perfectly fits the role of
brilliant, introverted Fred. He has a nice quality to him
making him shy and normal at the same time. He has good
delivery and delivers a strong performance. Same thing for
Foster as Dede. She puts on an accent and really digs deep
into the somewhat apathetic mother. Diane Wiest also digs
deep into Jane as well, also finding the core as a person
who sees so much in Fred and wants to move him along despite
his mother. A young David Hyde Pierece and Harry Conick Jr.
also put in equally effective and strong performance. Conick
is great as the college student who Fred looks up to. He may
seem clichéd as a character at first, but we come to
realize there is more in him. No one could ask for a finer
and moving cast.
"Little Man Tate" is a must see film. Foster's
directorial debut is amazing, and the performances she gets
are just as good. Scott Frank creates a marvelous script
with meaning, and it has nice touches of humor with
effecting drama. Everyone owes themselves to see this film
at once, more if you're Foster or drama fans. This DVD is
superb, so don't miss it!
I believe this is the first time "Little Man Tate" has
been presented in widescreen since its original theatrical
release, and this 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer
looks pretty spiffy. Some blemishes pop up here and there,
but those are rare and aren't distracting. Colors and
fleshtones are finely saturated while black levels are
pretty good too. Noise and shimmering comes up here and
there, but it's nothing too major and never lasts for long.
There is some grain to the image, and sometimes it looks a
bit soft. Detail is also pretty good. Overall, this transfer
is very good for what it is, and no one should be really
disappointment. It could have been far worse, but looks up
to far and is a mighty fine transfer in the end.
The movie also has a 5.1 Dolby Digital track in English,
as well as French and Spanish Stereo Surround tracks. The
5.1 track won't blow your speakers away, but they certainly
fit fine within the movie's material and context. The jazzy
score from Mark Isham sounds very nice through the speakers,
while other jazz music and the classical music also sound
nice. Surrounds are somewhat limited, as this movie is
really dialogue driven, but when there are surrounds, they
do sound quite nice (traffic outside, the schoolyard).
Dialogue is clear and crisp as other sounds don't get in the
way of it, there is an even balance between things. Bass
extension is limited, but when used it sounds particuarly
good. Overall, this is a good 5.1 remix that takes advantage
of what it has. You may not think this movie is really 5.1,
but I was surprised what was done with the sound in this
track. It doesn't go over the top and creates a pretty
believable envrionment for the movie. English closed
captions, Spanish subtitles and French subtitles are also on
this release.
I was really thrilled to have an Audio Commentary with
Jodie Foster, and it's quite simply one of the best
audio commentaries I've had the pleasure of hearing. Yes,
it's that good. I was hoping she'd contribute her thoughts
on this movie rather than just have a boring old trailer,
but yes, she's here to give her thoughts ten years later and
that makes me very happy. Foster talks about how the script
did change drastically over a good period of time, I had no
idea that this was originally concieved as a black comedy.
Foster is really talkative, even right through the credits
and covers so much about the production. Foster is
incredibly enthusiastic as she talks about her experiences
as a first time director, her thoughts about it, directors
in general and really talks about truths when making films,
she really talks to you like it is. Foster praises her cast
(even offering apologies to Diane Wiest) and aspects of the
production. She also makes great comments about the themes
of the film, symbolisms and characters too. In this
commentary, she talks to you like she knows you. She is
never bored or makes dull comments, she's fun and she really
knows what she's talking about, she's really well prepared
and confident. She's a joy to listen to, and this is really
how all commentaries should be. In fact, I'd go as far and
call it a "reference commentary." I was certainly impressed
as this commentary far exceeded my expectations. Foster
seemed to enjoy making this film tremendously, and we can
hear her joy and warmth in this track. DO NOT MISS
THIS.
And of course, you also got the Theatrical Trailer
in two channel sound and full frame.
"Little Man Tate" is an extradoniary, one-of-a-kind movie
that they simply don't make anymore. Foster's directorial
debut is an impressive one, as she tells an incredible story
with a great cast. This DVD has a nice price, a good
presentation and a fantastic commentary with Foster. Don't
miss it!
 (4.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
 (3.5/5)
 (3/5)
 (1.5/5)
(3.5/5, NOT an average)
|
