Diane Keaton's "Little Man Tate": Underrated or Overlooked?

Okay, so I just revisited Diane Keaton's Little Man Tate and I'm kicking myself for not watching it sooner. I always knew Keaton was a talented actress, but I didn't realize she directed too! I'm really trying to dive into director filmographies right now, and this one definitely deserves more attention than it gets. The story itself is pretty compelling – a single mom (played really well by Keaton herself!) raising a genius kid, Fred. He's so young but so clearly gifted, and she's navigating how to give him what he needs without alienating him or pushing him too hard. I thought the scenes where Fred is just trying to connect with other kids his age were particularly heartbreaking. You really feel for both him and Dede. What I especially appreciated was that Keaton didn't go for the schmaltzy, overly sentimental route. There's definitely heart, but it's grounded and feels honest. I was particularly impressed with how she handled the relationship between Fred and Jane Grierson (played by Jodie Foster). Rather than just having her be a stereotypical academic, she made Jane someone who genuinely saw Fred's potential but also understood his need for a normal childhood. Maybe it's just me, but the ending always hits me a bit more than most. Worth seeking out if you haven't seen this one!