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Jodie Foster, Adam Hann-Byrd, Dianne Wiest, Harry Connick Jr., David Hyde Pierce ... see more see more... , Debi Mazar , P.J. Ochlan , George Plimpton , Alexandra Auder , John Bell , Ishe Costa , Richard Fredette , Elizabeth Frietsch , Gordon Greene , Richard Hanson , Michael Keavey , Carolyn Lawrence , Alex Lee , Nathan Lee , Mark Lienhart , Michael Mantell , Ellen McElduff , Adam Midkiff , Chucky Ocampo , Sheadrick Richards , Michael Shulman , Lauren Ashley Stacey , Erica Staton , Jennifer Trier , Danitra Vance , Celia Weston , Barry Williams , Sam Womelsdorf , Mar Ya Zuke , Bob Balaban , Josh Mostel , George S. Kaufman

Jodie Foster made her directorial debut (with a script by Scott Frank) in this tale of a child prodigy's search for social acceptance. Fred Tate (Adam Hann-Byrd) is a precocious fourth grader who has ... read more read more...no problem with the most complex mathematical problems or in banging out a Rachmaninoff concerto on the piano, but is totally inept at playing baseball or dealing with children his own age. His mother Dede (Jodie Foster) is a cocktail waitress who acts more like a child than Fred, but cares passionately about her son. Fred comes to the attention of child psychologist Jane Grierson (Dianne Wiest), who runs a summer camp for child prodigies called Odyssey of the Mind. She invites Fred to attend the summer session, creating a rift between Fred and Dede. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Flixster Users

62% liked it

14,452 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

25 critics

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Jodie Foster

Release Date: October 9, 1991

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DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001

Stats: 360 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (360)

  • ScoopOnline
    December 12, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    An awesome Movie I ll never forget.
  • 76Majikat
    August 25, 2008
    76Majikat
    I find stories of such genius? quite fascinating. Finding the balance between mental stimulation and having a ?normal? childhood for a child prodigy is a struggle.
  • thmtsang
    July 14, 2007
    thmtsang
    Heart warming movie about relations between singel mom and son.
  • deano
    November 21, 2006
    deano
    Jodie Foster's debut film as director is a delightful, bitter-sweet tale of an ill-educated single mother with a child prodigy for a son. Fascinating for its insight into such children, the film's also frequently funny.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 25, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Fantastic film.
  • Tss807
    August 17, 2010
    Tss807
    There's something so amazing but also so sad at the same time. This film really showed you how much someone with a special gift has to give up, just to remain special. The story was great, but as a movie it was choppy and jumped around a lot leaving many things unfinished. Entert... read moreaining and worth watching? Yes. One of the best films I've seen? No.
  • bcavros
    September 11, 2010
    bcavros
    The feeling of balancing being exceptionally gifted balanced with getting on with everyday life is very well captures in Jodie Foster's directitorial debut. Of interest to anyone who has ever been shod with the yoke of banality when all they want to do is move forward. Adam Hann-... read moreByrd works like an inigma which draws the audience deeper into his plight to fit into his place in the world. Diane Weist cannot make a bad movie. The movies only flaw is that Fosters even handed balancing act with the plethora of well developed characters detracts from the arc of the story, like a mobile(sculpture) with symmetrical parts, the detracts from the sense of the kinetic nature.
  • ileo
    December 28, 2007
    ileo
    Great movie! Love it.
  • InaHH
    November 7, 2006
    InaHH
    Touching, solidly made - just a tad too melodramatic.
  • jackass001
    November 27, 2009
    jackass001
    one of the good film that i was in childhood and i guess that be my childhood favorite and i keep watching this movie and it wonderful film. jodie foster's director debut and she good director and the good starring role. adam hann-byrd are starring film debut as fred the gifted. ... read moreother character damon wells is seem little of bit funny and some of annyoing.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
May 3, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Well meaning but too similistic and earnest melodrama that juxtaposes two types philosophies of how to raise a brilliant kid Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
July 18, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A triumphant debut as a film director for Jodie Foster in a captivating tale about a pint-sized genius. Full Review

Rob Thomas
May 22, 2003
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Foster displays a great touch in her directorial debut

Dan Lybarger
November 29, 2002
Dan Lybarger, Lawrence Journal-World

Cute, if not terribly substantial.

Alex Sandell
August 8, 2002
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Tries to jerk tears but instead elicits giggles.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

February 5, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Little Man Tate Trivia

  • Jodie Foster's directorial debut  Answer »
  • In which 1991 movie did Jodie Foster play a single parent of a boy named Fred Tate who is found to be a genius?  Answer »
  • Jodie Foster is a waitress who doesn't realise that her son is a prodigy until he's spotted by Dianne Wiest. name the movie?  Answer »
  • In which movie does Jodie Foster play the mother of a genius boy?  Answer »
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