Little Man Tate

PG

Released Oct 18, 1991

1 hr. 39 min.

Drama

List

71%

31 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a 7-year-old with a genius IQ. Single mother Dede (Jodie Foster) worries Fred might have an easier time fitting in around other child prodigies. Despite reservations, she allows Fred to go to a smart summer camp run by child psychologist Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest), a former child prodigy. Fred's studies advance, but, as he prepares for a national TV competition, he is torn between following through with his advanced education or building a normal life.

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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 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 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Sweet and really well acted.

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 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I'll admit upfront, when I was shown this movie at a very young age, which I want to highlight, it was at that time that I became biased towards this movie. That said, it ,very much, appealed to me as a individual who has always felt like I didn't belong (for any reason). I thought the young man never waivered in his portrayal of his character and Ms foster did great as a single mom raising a boy whom she knew was special but could not relate to. I'd like to think I've seen many bad, very trivial movies but this was certainly not one of them.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/26/18

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a movie that stings, and the poor kid who gets pulled between two very contrasting worlds. With his mother, life is bland and lonely as she struggles to make ends meet and he's way too smart for her and the public school he attends, but at least she loves him and makes sure he gets to do normal things. Then this brilliant woman comes along and wants to give him a childhood she thinks suits him better, but gets confronted by the fact that she can't fathom what being a caretaker actually requires of her...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

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Jodie Foster

Director

Jodie Foster

Dede Tate

Dianne Wiest

Jane Grierson

Adam Hann-Byrd

Fred Tate

Harry Connick Jr.

Eddie

David Hyde Pierce

Garth (as David Pierce)

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Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Fred

2:15

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Mathematics Challenge

1:24

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Horseback Ride

2:55

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - The Math Magician

1:46

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - My Name's Eddie

2:39

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - He's Smarter Than All Those Other Plateheads

2:22

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - I Love You, Mom

2:23

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Flying Globe

1:43

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Now Can I Have a Coke?

1:25

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - If Anything Happens to Him...

2:47

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Foster’s sense of camera placement is both original and highly functional throughout.

Rated: 3/4

May 24, 2022

Full Review

Bill Cosford

Miami Herald

Adam and Foster have an easiness around one another on screen that makes you comfortable with them; they're a swell mother and son.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 17, 2021

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Despite quirky, fresh moments and a watchful, touching performance from Hann-Byrd, the movie lurches unsteadily from scene to scene, punctuated by odd bursts of irrelevant melodrama and culminating in an ending that is frankly baffling.

Feb 7, 2018

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Little Man Tate is an extremist film of opposing poles. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 4, 2023

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

Jodie Foster's disappointing directorial debut, Little Man Tate, is a pseudo-problem picture scripted by Scott Frank with the same grasp of reality he demonstrated in Dead Again.

Apr 13, 2022

Full Review

Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Jodie Foster makes an impressive debut as a director with Little Man Tate -- a poignant story of a gifted child whose talents consign him to a lonely life.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 13, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a 7-year-old with a genius IQ. Single mother Dede (Jodie Foster) worries Fred might have an easier time fitting in around other child prodigies. Despite reservations, she allows Fred to go to a smart summer camp run by child psychologist Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest), a former child prodigy. Fred's studies advance, but, as he prepares for a national TV competition, he is torn between following through with his advanced education or building a normal life.

Director: Jodie Foster
Executive Producer: Randy Stone
Screenwriter: Scott Frank
Distributor: Orion Pictures
Production Co: Orion Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.0M
Sound Mix: Surround

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