The Little Things (Movie Review) – Denzel Washington

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

PLOT: A former LASD investigator (Denzel Washington), now working as a deputy in Kern County, consults with a hotshot detective (Rami Malek) on a case involving a serial killer.

REVIEW: The Little Things has an interesting history. Originally written by John Lee Hancock in the nineties, with Steven Spielberg, Warren Beatty, and Danny DeVito all attached to direct at some point, Hancock himself has dusted off his old script and finally turned it into a film. Set in 1990, it really does feel like a lost film from another era, with Denzel Washington playing to type as a burnt-out detective trying to catch a killer.

What’s cool is that even if this film had been made in the nineties, Washington would have probably still been in it, albeit as the younger detective played here by Rami Malek. The older detective would have been a no-brainer for Gene Hackman. Overall, this is a fairly routine thriller distinguished by a couple of great performances and a killer ending that’s so clever, I bet that’s why The Little Things was such a hot script back in the nineties. Now, in an era where serial killer films are extremely familiar, the movie is a solid programmer and a great deal for HBO Max clients, although PVOD customers might think twice about shelling out $24.99 for a movie that’s only good.

The gruff, burnt-out detective role fits Washington to a tee. You can easily buy him as a former hotshot whose life fell apart after a mysterious incident that got him bounced from the LASD to a more modest job in Kern County, and Hancock gives him plenty of material to chew on. Likewise, Jared Leto is terrific as the prime suspect in a series of grisly killings. Sporting his trademark long-hair, albeit much greasier than usual, Leto seems to enjoy playing this wily suspect who toys with the LASD and may (or may not) be the killer they’re looking for. Is he just a prick or is he a monster? Leto keeps you guessing.

Where the film goes wrong, and sadly this is a big thing, is in the casting of Rami Malek as the younger detective. There’s a certain aloofness about his performance that doesn’t work. We’re supposed to believe that he’s a deeply religious, compassionate detective on the razor’s edge of a breakdown due to all of the young women that are being killed on his watch, but Malek doesn’t sell it. Years ago, Ethan Hawke said something interesting in an interview about how hard it is to go toe-to-toe with Washington, and Malek fades into the background any time Denzel’s on-screen. Perhaps someone like Denzel’s own son, John David Washington, or an Ethan Hawke type might have fared better. Leto doesn’t have this problem, but as a result, the movie becomes all about them while Malek barely registers – a problem as he’s the second lead.

Otherwise, Hancock does a nice job evoking a seedier 1990 version of L.A, with some good soundtrack choices and a strong score by Thomas Newman. And his ending is a knockout, although it’ll no doubt polarize viewers. If you’re an HBO Max subscriber, this is a no-brainer. It’s a solidly crafted thriller with a great Denzel Washington performance. It definitely could have been better, and indeed likely would have been had it been made back when it was originally written, but it gets the job done.

The Little Things

GOOD

7

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