All the Little Animals
British producer Jeremy Thomas made his directorial debut with this drama adapted from the novel by Walker Hamilton. Hindered by a childhood auto accident, teen Bobby (Christian Bale) is a misfit from a well-to-do family; he suffers yet another setback after the premature death of his mother. His stern stepfather, the evil De Winter (Daniel Benzali) labels Bobby "subnormal" and schemes to trick the youth into signing over the family department store. Bobby calls DeWinter "The Fat." To escape The Fat's clutches, Bobby takes off, hitchhiking to Cornwall. The trip ends when the teen causes an accident while trying to keep the driver from intentionally running over a fox. The driver is killed in the crash. Bobby then meets the antisocial Mr. Summers (John Hurt) who states, "People are of no value at all as far as I'm concerned." Summers allows Bobby to move into his shack, eventually revealing his past criminal life, and the two team to confront The Fat in London. Filmed in Cornwall and the Isle of Man. Shown in the Certain Regard section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. more..
Director: Jeremy Thomas
Starring: John Hurt, Christian Bale, Daniel Benzali, James Faulkner, John O'Toole
Falls so far outside our ordinary story expectations it may frustrate some viewers.
Involvingly acted, surehandedly crafted.
Beautifully produced: a moving film with a fascinating story and exemplary acting.
Where the movie falters is in sustaining the tricky balance between pastoral life lessons and creepy suspense.
Would seem hokey if it didn't have powerful, extraordinary central performances and cinematography that lends the English landscape around Cornwall a mythical cast.
Jeremy Thomas
Dinard British Film Festival (1998)
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