Little Secrets

Little Secrets begins with an appealing promise: Blair Treu will treat its comedy framework as a route into character rather than an excuse for noise. The early chemistry between Evan Rachel Wood and Michael Angarano gives Little Secrets an immediate pulse. The story of Little Secrets begins from a specific pressure point: A fourteen year old aspiring violinist finds herself under an increasing amount of pressure to keep secrets for herself, her family and her newfound best friend. By the end of its 1h 36m running time, the value of Little Secrets rests less on novelty than on the care of its execution.

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The narrative of Little Secrets works from a simple but productive collision between the central character and an important relationship. Through Evan Rachel Wood, Little Secrets keeps that premise rooted in a reaction the audience can understand. Jessica Barondes introduces a difficult choice at a useful point, giving Little Secrets a reason to change pace without abandoning its emotional line. The handling of the wider conflict is not equally fresh, yet Little Secrets usually earns attention through clarity rather than surprise alone.

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As director of Little Secrets, Blair Treu proves alive in individual scenes and uncertain between them in the transitions between intimate material and larger demands. A strong scene in Little Secrets often begins with a modest detail before Blair Treu lets its meaning expand. For Little Secrets, the cast and craft keep the experience watchable because the central tone remains visible even during busy passages. The weakness in Little Secrets is that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested, although Blair Treu usually finds the original rhythm again.

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Performance is the clearest human asset in Little Secrets, beginning with the committed centre provided by Evan Rachel Wood. Michael Angarano keeps Little Secrets from settling into one emotional register by approaching the material from another angle. The presence of David Gallagher gives the surrounding world of Little Secrets additional texture without distracting from the main line. When Blair Treu holds on a reaction, Little Secrets communicates more efficiently than another explanatory exchange could manage.

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Little Secrets gains much of its identity from comic timing built around character, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of Columbia TriStar Home Video allows Little Secrets to combine comic timing built around character with a consistent visual language. Within its United States setting, Little Secrets makes particularly good use of well judged reactions when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Little Secrets by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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Little Secrets uses its comedy framework to consider embarrassment, status and the gap between confidence and reality. For the character played by Evan Rachel Wood, that idea gives Little Secrets stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of an important relationship prevents the theme in Little Secrets from feeling like decoration added after the story. Blair Treu makes Little Secrets more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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For comedy fans who respond to personality and timing, Little Secrets is ultimately an uneven film with enough personality to remain interesting. Its most persuasive combination in Little Secrets brings Evan Rachel Wood together with well judged reactions under the direction of Blair Treu. The fact that too many scenes explain effects the actors have already suggested prevents Little Secrets from being entirely seamless. Even with that reservation, Little Secrets has a clear point of view and enough genuine feeling to justify the journey.