Little Man Tate Details

Jodie Foster made an impressive directorial debut with this touching drama about a young mother (played by Foster) who is determined to get the best for her exceptionally gifted six-year-old son (an enjoyable performance from Adam Hann-Byrd). It has its clichéd moments, but you do get a feeling that Foster knows her subject matter — a child growing up too fast, and living in an adult world too soon — which, of course, she does, having worked as an actress since she was three. Moving without being cloying, the film also features some accomplished supporting performances, notably from Dianne Wiest, as a child psychologist, and from musician/actor Harry Connick Jr.

"...Dianne Wiest is immensely sympathetic....P.J. Ochlan is very funny....Hann-Byrd has the requisite young-old look, and it's believable that he's as bright as the film makes him out to be..."