Review by Crue Smith
Warner Brothers are in the midst of rolling out their 2021 lineup of films that will be streaming exclusively on HBO Max throughout the year – one of which isThe Little Things, written and directed by John Lee Hancock, and starring Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto. A downbeat neo-noir set in Los Angeles, it’s a film that feels like it would have been made twenty years ago when Hollywood still relied on star power and a genre to get viewers into the seats, of a now defunct theater industry. I for one miss movie stars, and I miss the well crafted crime thriller; I miss the time where the name Denzel Washington alone could bring people into the theater, not just a piece of intellectual property (though, I feel even that’s going out the door too). Because of our lack of such movies, I really wanted to like The Little Things, and it does have moments of stylistic thrills. However, certain performances, plot holes and watered down subject matter brings down what I think could have been a sleek thriller.
The film follows Joe Deacon (Washington), a Kern county sheriff’s deputy who comes to Los Angeles for a forensics file only to become wrapped up in a murder investigation involving bizarre murders of young women. After learning Deacon’s past, homicide detective Jim Baxter (Malek) teams up with Deacon as they investigate “Albert” (Leto), the man they believe to be the culprit. John Lee Hancock, who also wrote the script for The Little Things, is known for films like The Blindside, The Founder, and Saving Mr. Banks – needless to say, The Little Things is a step in a different direction. He clearly understands the aesthetic and narrative conventions of the crime thriller, but I feel that Hancock didn’t push the envelope enough. It’s neither disturbing enough for the subject matter, nor as wholesome as his other work. Clint Eastwood was attached to direct this at one point, and I could see what he would have created with the given material considering the type of thriller Eastwood made in the 90’s. Nevertheless, Hancock’s new film is competently shot and edited. Likewise, Denzel Washington gave an understated and vulnerable performance as Deacon, which meshes well with the downbeat tone Hancock’s trying to convey.
As I’ve read a handful of reviews and first impressions from critics, I kept coming across statements, that said something to the effect of “The Little Things is nothing more than a cliché cop drama, that doesn’t really have any aspects that sets this film apart from previous genre installments.” Yes, many crime thrillers rely on aesthetic and narrative clichés that The Little Things most certainly possess: the moody, neon lit street of Los Angeles, a detective that’s has to find personal redemption by solving that case that eluded him years ago, and a suspected murder that lurks the streets, preying on his next victim. However, Hancock reliance on genre conventions isn’t the reason the film doesn’t hold up. Rather, I find the problems lie in two different areas: plot structure and a stark contrast between the quality of the actors’s performances.
Unlike Washington, Malek and Leto’s performances are inconsistent with the tone of the film. Malek sometimes feels as if he’s phoning it in with his trademark mumblings mixed with rage filled outbursts that feel out of place and awkward with the rest of what Hancock’s trying to achieve. That being said, Washington and Malek’s chemistry worked well, unlike Leto , who insisted on hamming it up for the audience as the creepy murder suspect “Albert.” This performance, unfortunately knocked the film down quite a few pegs. Leto couldn't help attempting to steal the scene from the other performers with an over-the-top performance mixed together with laughably bad one-liners. He’s trying to be creepy and sleazy, but just came across as annoying and obnoxious, driving a stark contrast between a veteran actor like Denzel who’s confident in his abilities as an actor.
For a detective story to work, the most important aspect is surprise. Though, the final act takes an unconventional turn, I find that it wasn’t earned. Once everything comes to light it feels rushed and in inauthentic. I felt like the plot just pushed the characters along, and without enough foreshadowing, the ending – which would have been been wonderful if properly earned – felt out of place. Overall, I didn’t hate The Little Things and it has aspects that I like. However, certain performances and a weak plot holds this film back from its full potential.