September 2002 Little Secrets

(Sept: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Gallery * Teen Current Issue * Archive

Reviewed by Wilson Morales Little Secrets Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films/ IDP Films Director: Blair Treu Producers: Blair Treu, Don Schain, & Jessica Barondes Screenwriter: Jessica Barondes Running Time: 107 min Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Michael Angarano, David Gallagher, & Vivica A. Fox Part of being a journalist is that we come upon information in which our first instinct is to tell the world. It’s not that easy. If the information isn’t used in a proper way, lawsuits can follow. When you’re a teenager, it may be a burden holding onto secrets as one is maturing in adulthood and become more aware of what’s right and wrong. In Blair Treu’s “Little Secrets,” the keeper of secrets has so much on her plate that it begins to spill over to her own life. In her first film as the lead star, Evan Rachel Wood is appealing as the teenager who’s sort of the Pied Piper of the town. “Little Secrets” is an enjoyable family film that many will enjoy and learn a lesson or two about lying. Emily (Wood) is the only child in her family. Rather than go to summer camp with her two best friends and have fun in the sun, she stays home and works hard on her violin. She’s a gifted violinist and yearns to play with the Washington symphony, which she watches on TV constantly. Part of her daily duties is being the secret keeper for the kids in the neighborhood. For a small fee, whatever items the kids give her, she puts them in a bag until they decide the item is no longer a secret. When a new neighbor (Angarano) comes to town and becomes her friend, her normal life unravels. Not only does her mother need her help with an unborn child on the way, the neighbor’s older brother David (Gallagher) puts on the charm. A burnout ensues as Emily learns more than she bargainsfor. With the possibility of her own secret coming out, Emily is a nervous wreck as her audition for a symphony comes near. This could easily be seen as an “afternoon special” or a “made-for-TV” film, but it isn’t. It’s on the big screen, and that’s a good thing. Much of this summer’s kid films have either been animated (Lilo & Stitch, Hey Arnold, & the Powerpuff Girls) or special effects driven (Spy Kids 2). “Little Secrets” offers a nice family film that’s well acted and filled with substance. As the main character, Evan Rachel Wood has a nice future ahead of her. She carries the film with her passion and resignation. Every story has a meaning, and through her character we see it. The effect of lying has its price, and everyone who does it faces its ordeal. Vivica A. Fox, in a colorless role, is charming as the adult who befriends Emily and gives her advise on her music. This is a film for all ages as many scenes may conjure up your childhood memories. The script is well written and boasts many scenes with realism. It’s a heartfelt film that all should be pleased with.