rzajac I just became aware that Jodie Foster had done some directing. I watched Home for the Holidays yesterday, just finished Little Man Tate.This is what all American film should be. The writing is perfect. The pacing, the humor, character development, are fantastic. Enough attention is paid to all the fundamentals, like the shots and editing.In short, it's a wonderful take on the whole head/heart thing. Raw cognitive power is nothing without a healthy affect. The good news is that Fred is never really in danger; in danger of a tragic dehumanization. That's part of the delicacy of the film: No black vs. white, simplistic exposition here. This is a very, very colorful film that sweetly transits us from a looming rarefied sterility to the warm embrace of friends and family. Somehow, without spelling it out for Those of You On Drugs, you are left with the assurance that future opportunities for Fred to use his special gifts are no less secure for all that.

Elswet This work presents the challenges of raising a gifted child. It is never a easy as it seems, raising a child who is more intellectual than you are - a fact wrenchingly portrayed herein. The emotional needs of these children often go unattended, as the parents usually struggle to satisfy the intellectual needs.Jodie Foster gives a fantastic performance as a mom under the aforementioned circumstances.Many may consider the ending weak, if they are unable to demonstrate the ability to see beyond the story itself. If you can, then this work is well done and offers hope in the end.I found it a bit better than mildly entertaining, but it's not something I will want to watch again.It rates a 6.7/10 from...the Fiend :.

ccthemovieman-1 This story is a realistic account (I admit, I am assuming) of what it must be like to be a child genius, not fitting in with kids your own age nor with older kids. It must really be difficult for all involved.Adam Hanna-Byrd, as "Fred," is the star of the show and plays that young kid. Jodie Foster plays his mother. The kid's a neat little guy and the main adult characters, played by Foster and Dianne Wiest, are interesting, too. The latter plays the head mistress of a school for gifted children. She and Foster clash a lot about how to bring up the child.The only thing that marred this film was the language. There is too much profanity (six usages of the Lord's name in vain, for example) for a "family film" like this. There is no reason for all of it in a thoughtful, kid-themed movie. Anyway, it's still worth a look.It's nice to see Hanna-Byrd, in real life, is living much more of a normal existence, having gone to college and graduating in 2004

Sam(antha) Mukashi This movie is obviously what one would call "labour of love". It's a pleasure to watch. The story shows beautifully what a thousand articles on math prodigies cannot- that even geniuses need love and that no matter how "genius" that child is he is still only a kid. She brings out the subtleties of her character. Fred seems adult-like in a child's world and yet deals with child-like simplicity in an adult's world. Jane is the headmistress of a school for the gifted, who believes that her theories on child-prodigies can bring out Fred's best talents, but forgets that Fred's best is not in his head but in his heart. Working to give her child the best yet fierce-fully protective of Fred is his mother Dede. This movie perfectly capture the heartbreaking events that can happen when a child is given too much attention but no affection. Hats off to Adam Byrd who gives a very nuanced performance. Both Jodie Foster and Nancy show the little personality clashes very well. Jodie foster has done a great job when she shows Dede's reaction and then later Jane's reaction to the fact that Fred has had a nightmare.I hope to be able to see more movies from her.