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Little Man Tate

Play trailer Poster for Little Man Tate PG Released Oct 18, 1991 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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70% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
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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Little Man Tate

Critics Reviews

View All (30) Critics Reviews
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 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 Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C+ Sep 7, 2011 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Read all reviews
Little Man Tate

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Cast & Crew

Little Man Tate

Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Fred Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Fred 2:15 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Horseback Ride Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Horseback Ride 2:55 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Mathematics Challenge Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Mathematics Challenge 1:24 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - The Math Magician Little Man Tate: Official Clip - The Math Magician 1:46 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - My Name's Eddie Little Man Tate: Official Clip - My Name's Eddie 2:39 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - He's Smarter Than All Those Other Plateheads Little Man Tate: Official Clip - He's Smarter Than All Those Other Plateheads 2:22 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - I Love You, Mom Little Man Tate: Official Clip - I Love You, Mom 2:23 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Flying Globe Little Man Tate: Official Clip - A Flying Globe 1:43 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Now Can I Have a Coke? Little Man Tate: Official Clip - Now Can I Have a Coke? 1:25 Little Man Tate: Official Clip - If Anything Happens to Him... Little Man Tate: Official Clip - If Anything Happens to Him... 2:47 View more videos
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Movie Info

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
Producer
Peggy Rajski, Scott Rudin
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
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround
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