best movie I've seen in ages!

Incredible acting by everyone. One of the best movies I've ever watched and I'm 81 years old. As far as I'm concerned if this movie does not "get to you" you'd wanna take a real good look at yourself.

Can't understand why this wasn't a more well known movie

I was surprised by the "all star" cast.. Great acting, The reality of many young children, I am afraid..

I liked this film as it did well at showing things from the childs point of view. Of course the subject of child custody battles is far from new ground in terms of Hollywood films but I felt the subject was handled very well and the young girl, Maisie, played by Onata Aprile, gave a compelling performance. She really did seem genuinely confused/upset and tired by the various twists and turns of the plot. The parents do seem rather petty and I felt very sorry for Maisie. I'd recommend this film.

Despite multiple layers of cliché, the film is quite touching and escapes the corniness through good performances. I liked it more than I would expect.

The early years of Maisie Beale. A great movie.

I found What Maisie Knew to have a somewhat funny premise: A selfish and preoccupied father marries his daughter's nanny, the girl's manipulative and spiteful mother marries a younger man to use him as a caregiver, the girl is essentially abandoned by her parents, and her step-parents end up informally adopting her. The performances were top-notch and delivered believably, which, along with strong direction, made this movie touching rather than silly.

Though the title sounds like the movie is about a small child who witnesses a murder or suffers some abuse, it is about parents who put their small child right in the middle of their divorce and custody issues. Everything is seen through the eyes of Maisie, the innocent victim of never being her mother's or father's first priority. I hope people learn something from this movie. Kids see everything and know much more than you think.

This film is quite humbling. The perfomances from Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård , Joanna Vanderham, Steve Coogan are spellbinding but that of Onata Aprile the child in the centre of the drama is breathtaking. I found this film impelling to watch. It treats its subject matter of childhood abandonment and faux sincerity to the point where you ache to jump onto the stage and scream at everyone. Onata Aprile appears to be the only adult. She demands attention when on screen, with the perfection of her delivery. The strength of this film is the restrained nature of the treatment of the subject matter. With a small girl lost within the machinations of an adult world we have no screams and hystreical drama, just the failed manipulations of an all too weary adult world treating a child as if it were a doll that was won in a funfair.

Very impactful look at a the life of a child of divorce with two self-absorbed dysfunctional parents.

Not bad acting but it is wasted on a thin story line - specifically Moore’s - this is not developed at all. There are assumptions around Coogan’s character and the moves he makes - as hasty as they are. However the film falls short. However, the young Aprile is a performance is one that shows potential and should be explored with other films.

Sad set of parents. Awesome step parents. Great acting by all

The story is a fascinating tale and the acting is top notch, which makes 'What Maisie Knew' an independent movie with heart and soul. Told from the perspective of six year old Maisie (Onata Aprile), the premise of two parents who are selfish and put themselves ahead of their child is believable. Some of the relationships that develop are not entirely tenable, but the performances of Aprile, and Julianne Moore carry a the story to greater heights. The men in this film are penned with compassion, but are also flawed. Steve Coogan, in a rare dramatic role shines. When Alexander Skarsgård gets a chance to act in something like this he shows the potential he has. Unfortunately, scripts like this one don't often get made into feature length films. Amazingly, this tale was written in 1995 (based on a late 19th century novel), but didn't get made for over 15 years. The key here is Aprile, and she's up to the challenge in an authentic representation of what would be going through a girl of that age. Her chemistry with her co-stars, effervescence, and willingness to see the good in people despite her surroundings is endearing. Final Score: 7.7/10

With a bit more of subtlety, Maisie would have understood a bit less, and I would have liked the movie a bit more.

Spectacularly directed with the sensitivity and attention to detail that is required when dealing with the difficult subject, 'What Maisie Knew' is a hard-hitting drama that tells the story of how a young girl experiences the separation of her utterly ignorant and irresponsible parents. And difficult to watch it is, with Onata Aprile stealing the spotlight, making you want to reach through the screen and strangle those responsible for preventing her from enjoying any happiness that comes her way.

A rather gut wrenching movie through the eyes of a 6 year old little girl who must endure the day to day dealing of a bitter divorce between her parents. This movie filled me with anger at times, especially when the parents bad mouthed each other in front of and to Maisie. It was also hard to watch her get passed off so flippantly to other people because her parents were so irresponsible and self centered. Sadly, this is a reality for many children these days and I think this movie did a good job reflecting that.

Having watched my own family fall apart at Maisie's age, I'm skeptical of some of the events shown in this film and I can't help but wonder why Maisie's "replacement parents" didn't involve CPS. Regardless, "What Maisie Knew" is nothing short of beautiful and poignant.

A poignant look at a chia'd-eye view of selfish parent's splitting up. Spoiler alert! At least this modern version of the depressing Henry James novel has a happy ending--she ends up with her parent's rebound exes, who fall for each other and her. And the mother has the grace and unselfishness to realize they are better for Maisie and give her up to them.

As someone who is working professionally side by side with the Child Welfare field, this is never an easy movie to watch. I have seen and known too many children in my life who are struggling daily to live in a childhood which is destroyed by all the chaotic and messy lives of their selfish parents who will very likely never know how to be a responsible, loving & caring caretaker for their precious children. Adults seem to always undermine the ability of children to see through all the lies and broken promises what the actual reality is when their parents keep telling them in words how much they love their children but their actions show the otherwise. A must watch for all the current and future parents!!! :!-(