Little Children - a novel by Tom Perrotta

This was one of those rare occasions when I happened to watch the movie BEFORE reading the book. I watched the movie - nominated for 3 oscars, starring Kate Winslet (lead actress), Jennifer Connolly, Patrick Wilson, Jackie Earle Haley (supporting actor) - a couple of years ago and was surpised at how the sensitive subject matter was handled with subtle humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

Less than perfect marriages, the joys, pains and daily sacrifices of bringing up a child, the notion that fresh starts can reverse the drudgeries of past years.. are all explored in this very engaging novel. Sarah used to be a firebrand feminist in her college days, she's now in a dull marriage, taking care of a demanding 3 year old with whom she doesn't quite share the traditional mother-daughter bond. Todd used to be a successful, popular football player in college, who just can't manage to find the same success in his career. He is now a stay-at-home dad, feeling the pressure to pass the bar exam so he and his wife can move on to the next stage in their lives. When Todd and Sarah meet at a local playground, they embark on an unlikely and unpredictable affair.. Add to this, the fact that Ronnie, a sexual deviant moves to the neighborhood - adding more drama, and surprisingly, more comedy to the story.

The author, along with the director (Todd Field) adapted the novel for the screenplay - and as I read the book I was not suprised at how similar the book was to the movie (or perhaps the other way around).. except for the way the movie handled Ronnie (played by Haley), which was VERY different from the book.. and it was this ending that gave the movie its edge. On the other hand, Perotta handled Ronnie's character with more irony than disquietude in the book..
It also has to be said that the author's style constantly switches between the casual and the profound.. making the book highy readable, charming and full of wisdom.

Sunshine Cleaning

Not a lot of people can put a positive spin on "removal of bio-hazard materials".. but Amy Adams sure can! Even though there are elements in the movie that make it very "Little Miss Sunshine-esque" - it still manages to be original. The story unfolds delectably to reveal a family that appears to be normal on the outside, but is struggling under the weight of personal tragedy, shattered dreams, unfulfilled expectations and a general sense of malaise. Yes, that does sound depressing, but the characters manage to find humor in their daily tribulations. And that's what makes this movie into an uplifting, bitter-sweet tale of family, failures, triumphs and redemption.

In a nutshell (and without giving away too much!) Amy Adams plays Rose, who goes from being a popular cheerleader in highschool to a single mom working in a cleaning company to owning her own "crime scene clean up" business. Her sister, Norah (played by Emily Blunt.. of "The Devil wears Prada" fame) never moved past their mother's tragic death, and is constantly in a state of lethargy and cigarette-induced stupor. Their father (loved Alan Arkin in this role!) is the eternal optimist, always on the brink of THE business opportunity that will make him rich. Dysfunctional family relationships are usually the focus of indy flicks.. and this movie is no exception. "Rachel getting married" and "Margot at the wedding" are examples of other small films that have attempted to depict this complex bond. In its characterization of Rose and Norah, "Sunshine Cleaning" brings authenticity to the portayal of the nuances and subtleties that exist between sisters.

Overall, the movie is missing the "feel good" factor of "Little Miss Sunshine" by a hair.. but I don't think the writer's objective was to make the viewer attain that state of mind. The tag line of the movie is "Life's a messy business".. and the writer tries to convey just that, by offering surprising comedic elements as a relief from the darker themes of death and grief.