Little Man Tate

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Alejandro E Jodie Foster's first experiment as an actress-director will not be extraordinary, but it will be acceptable enough. The story of a single mother and her efforts to support her genius son has enough to connect with the viewer, and that is what makes it valid. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Audience Member Little Man Tate is a film that benefits greatly from Jodie Foster’s thoughtful direction and the strong performances from the cast. Foster’s sensitivity to the material ensures that the film’s themes of intellectual ability, emotional growth, and familial bonds resonate with authenticity. The acting performances are strong, particularly from Adam Hann-Byrd and Jodie Foster, both of whom bring depth and empathy to their roles. The film avoids sensationalism, instead opting for a grounded exploration of the complexities of childhood, genius, and emotional isolation. The film remains a quiet, poignant meditation on the intersection of talent and humanity. Adam Hann-Byrd delivers a remarkable performance as Fred Tate, the prodigiously intelligent yet emotionally vulnerable child. His portrayal is layered, capturing both Fred’s precociousness and his yearning to fit into a world that often alienates him. Hann-Byrd brings an authenticity to the role, making Fred a relatable and sympathetic character. Jodie Foster, pulling double duty as director and actor, shines as Dede Tate, Fred’s loving but overwhelmed single mother. Foster’s portrayal is deeply empathetic, illustrating Dede’s internal conflict as she tries to nurture her son while feeling out of her depth in understanding his extraordinary abilities. Her performance is raw and grounded, providing a strong emotional core for the film. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/07/25 Full Review Nim T The movie directed by Jodie Foster was surprisingly good. Had as much elements as it can when describing the hard obstacles faced in a single family. There was a good contrast regarding the characterization of the child. When Fred was introduced, I like the narrative of how he was treated differently by his peers, followed by his mother and then Dianne West's character. The changes he had to endure and the raw quality of his talent uplifted my emotions as it harmonizes the memories I had as a kid. Whether one has a talent or not, bullying can happen to anyone and the way he couldn't release it brings meaning to this short and simple story. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review jon c Jodie Foster stars and directs next to Dianne Weist, Harry Connick, Jr., David Hyde Pierce, and Debi Mazar This introduces Adam-Hann Byrd as Fred Tate, a 7-year old child prodigy who excels in his IQ Foster plays his mother, Dede whom at a young age recognizes his unique mind Fred however is a social pariah because he's not a normal child like many others his age Dede decides to send him to a smart summer camp run by a psychologist Jane Grierson who is astounded by his high intelligence True Fred advances in his teachings of math, physics, poetry and art; he is about to go on a national television competition but ultimately he's torn between being a fun kid and an Eistein in-training His mother doesn't trust Jane's approaches to his special mind but Jane sees his true potential to further his need for knowledge Fred even attends actual college at one point and as you'd expect it's not so easy for a kid his age to fit in so easily with other average college students But he makes a friend in college mate named Eddie, still it doesn't help he can't connect with any other kids his own age and grown ups doing grown up things Even a genius needs a break from having his talents be the center of his whole existence Byrd is terrific as this kid genius with his vacant expressions unsure what he's thinking and feeling inside despite being gifted, Foster is spectacular as his mother being very protective, and Weist does her part admirably being a 2nd mother figure to more than a few child prodigies The film kinda suffers a bit when Fred and Dede are separated for long periods Some of the melodrama is a bit too earnest and similistic but the two opposing sides of these women on how to raise a child is pretty relatable Foster directs with nice touches however imperfect they are Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Sweet and really well acted. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Did you all watch the same movie? It sucked. Scenes and dialog over the top, cloying and stereotypical. Lame plot and acting. I'm guessing her only directing role. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Little Man Tate

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