The Little Things
review by Bobby Blakey
There is no denying that Denzel Washington is one of the best in the business and as of late we just don’t get enough of him. Thankfully he has the new film The Little Things teaming up with the Founder and The Blindside director John Lee Hancock. The film also features Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales, Terry Kinney, Chris Bauer, Joris Jarsky, Isabel Arraiza and Michael Hyatt. Could this be crime thriller bring the twists and turns you expect or will it be a case not worth solving?
The Little Things follows Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon (Washington) is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a killer who is terrorizing the city. Leading the hunt, L.A. Sheriff Department Sergeant Jim Baxter (Malek), impressed with Deke’s cop instincts, unofficially engages his help. But as they track the killer, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.
This script from John Lee Hancock has apparently been around since 1993 with numerous directors attached including Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and more, but now all these years later Hancock has just done it himself. The films offers up a great crime thriller, but while it delivers there are both good and bad elements to it all. The cast are strong and the film does a great job at building the tension, but as much as I loved it there is kind of a generic vibe to it all. This is likely to it sticking to the time period in which it was written for the setting instead of trying to update it so it sticks to the formula of the time.
Despite this it is a strong crime thriller and the cast is really strong. Denzel is good as always and while Malek is fine felt a bit out of place in this role for me. I typically love the guy, but not sure he worked overall for this specific role. He isn’t bad and does a good job just something felt off for me. The show stealer
was Jared Leto. He brings a strangeness to the role that is so subtle at times, but really makes it work. There is a polite crazy to the performance that makes you feel something is off, but never really know what he is up to for most of the film. The case ends up in a kind of game of cat and mouse with a bit of the movie Seven thrown in for good measure without the big twist ending.
There is an element with the ending that will no doubt leave some disappointed, but I actually dug it. It gave it yet another bit of reality that I love in this kinds of films instead of the forcing a big twist just for effect. In the end it’s a strong effort for all those involved that I really enjoyed. It will no doubt be hit and miss with audiences I think in regards to where it goes, but for me delivered enough to keep me happy.
In addition to the film this release includes featurettes taking you behind bringing this film to life. Get in on the mystery and grab your copy of The Little Things available now on digital and then on Blu-ray and DVD on May 4th from Warner Bros Home Entertainment.