The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
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Movie Reviews of The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Movie Review: Jodie Foster Shines in this role
Summary: 5 Stars
I just watched this movie on TCM a few minutes ago, in the early a.m. hours. Like a lot of the other reviewers, I saw this movie many years ago, and never forgot it. When I watched it this morning, I was still astonished with Jodie Foster's acting ability at such a young age.
It may be a long stretch, a thirteen year old living in a huge house in the country, with her poet father who may, or may not be, living with her. But as the story enfolds, we understand why she is not in school. Thirty years after the movie was made, I got rather frustrated about Alexis Smith's role. I mean, the rent was paid for three years, what's the beef? Too much overacting on her part. And Martin Sheen -- well, he was creepiness personified. A known pedophile in a small town! C'mon. Oh well, it is only a movie!
Great performances from everyone. The town is beautiful, filmed in Canada. About the ending -- what is she going to do now?
Movie Review: Thats what little girls are made of (spoiler warning)
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an excellent movie. Jodie Foster gives an impressive performance for someone her age (her character was equal parts annoy and clever). Martin Sheen was equally as good as a vile and sadistic pedophile. Basically an all around good cast. The story was so good that it kept me interested despite the plot holes. I agree with other reviewers that the story tried to deliver the right message about independence and not letting others change you into what they want you to be. But lets face it, in real life a 13 year old living on her own is not a wise idea. At the end her character even admits that they thought of everything except for loneliness and the need for human companionship. I also felt that the 13 year old carrying on a sexual relationship, let alone with someone who was obviously older than her was disturbing. It seems as if the movie was presenting some kind of double standard: Martin Sheen is disgusting for going after young Jodie but "Mario" isn't because he's her hero and within 10 years of her age.
Movie Review: SIMPLY, A CLASSIC
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing this movie from when I was a little girl (I'm younger than Jodie). It scared the crap out of me. Although, its not really a horror flick, it still has a sinister edge that makes it creepy. Jodie Foster gave a stand up performance for her age. I consider it one of my collecter movies and I'm glad its finally on DVD. Movie Review: Try This "Little Girl" As A Character Study, Not Horror
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is a bit of a curiosity. I'm not surprised that people picking up the DVD expecting to see a horror movie are a little disappointed. Yet, with the provocative product description one might, at least, expect a thriller. This is how the movie was sold in its day and how it continues to be sold. For me, "The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane" has always been an interesting character study--but one with a decidedly creepy edge.
The film may seem a little dated to modern audiences, but that's to be expected. Upon my most recent viewing, I was completely put off at how many times someone barged right into the house! And Martin Sheen was so recognizably villainous from his first moment on screen--I wouldn't have minded some shading behind the character, something less obvious.
But, as everyone can agree, the film belongs to Jodie Foster. Cool and intelligent, resourceful and belligerent--it is a masterful performance. But I guess that's to be expected, this was the same year Foster was Oscar nominated for "Taxi Driver". One of Foster's chief assets, and it remains true to this day, is that she always just seems so much smarter than anyone else around her.
I admire "Little Girl" for just this reason. It is a progressive look at a young girl who is wise and adult beyond her years. She is allowed to be unsympathetic, she is allowed to be sexual, she is allowed to be independent. WOW! Imagine having written a role that doesn't condescend. Today, actresses don't mature on screen until their thirties (usually). This film has the audacity and bravery to respect it's lead character (who is 13) and let the viewer make up it's own mind about her. I'm sure that if this film were remade with today's standards, it would not be as morally ambiguous. And it's that haunting uncertainty, that lack of obviousness, and the utter freedom as the viewer to either embrace or condemn this "Little Girl" that has made this a mini-masterpiece. KGHarris, 9/06.
Movie Review: 0 STARS: As a horror movie, this movie sucks!
Summary: 1 Stars
Someone once told me that "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" is a decent horror movie. Boy, was she wrong!! This movie is a snoozer from a horror movie fan's perspective. I am not talking about the movie's lack of gore either...I don't care about that. "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" is not a horror movie at all and, is quite frankly, dull as a suspense thriller and/or mystery flick. True, one wonders about the little girl's father and she is eccentric to say the least, but that's not enough to hold the suspense thriller fan's interest. "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" is more of a romance movie with a little bit of mystery and is all about an eccentric weird girl who wants to be able to live alone, her way and without any interference from anyone. That being said, I do not think there is enough here for a suspense thriller much less a horror movie. True, Jodie Foster is a good actress, but she looks like a freak with her hairdo in this movie. It is truly sad that you will find "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" in the horror section of video/dvd stores. No matter what your pleasure is, this movie fails to deliver the goods. The problem with this movie is that it is simply boring, and not enough action takes place in this movie. The only viewers that will find this movie to be exceptional are the die-hard Jodie Foster fans. While I appreciate good acting, there still has to be a compelling enough script to hold one's interest. I would argue that you do not have this in "Little Girl". To be perfectly frank, this movie should be called "The Boring Adventures of The Weird Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane and Her Idiot Dorky Little Magician Friend"...that about sums it up.