It’s hard to think about the last great mystery movie we got. In 2019, Rian Johnson did bring us the brilliant and well constructed mystery film, Knives Out and it was an absolute refreshment to have a great and fun mystery movie to chew on, but it seems as if that was the last great one that audiences got to see. We love a good mystery movie but the most important element to any mystery movie is that needs to have a strong hook to it. Any great mystery movie will always have a significant and critical opening that will draw the audiences with an even more desire to uncover the mystery as it progresses. It needs to give enough information to the audience without spilling the beans too early, in order for more clues to be uncovered. Mystery movies such as Vertigo, Zodiac or Chinatown are just a few prime examples of setting up the audiences with a great level of mystery and intrigue that’s left to be discovered. Now, with a movie that has not one, not two but three Oscar winning actors, it’s hard to a refuse a movie that has something like that to offer. The trailers for The Little Things looked very promising and it seemed as if we were about get something really special. Unfortunately, The Little Things is an undercooked and substandard mystery flick, with very STRONG performances from Denzel Washington, Rami Malek Jared and Leto. Despite some well merited levels of intrigue, it doesn’t contribute much or go as deep as it wants itself to.
Set in Los Angeles, California in the 1990s, The Little Things follows two police officers, Joe “Deke” Deacon (Washington) and Jim Baxter (Malek), who are searching for a serial killer whose been threatening the city of LA for some time Their main and prime suspect, Albert Sparma (Leto), gives Joe and Jim the impression that he’s the culprit, but the more that Joe and Jim keep investigating the case, Joe’s dark and disturbed past is then being resurfaced, which makes the case more danger to his life than the case itself.
Denzel Washington is, arguably, the greatest working actor in all of Hollywood. He brings a great sense of charisma and dominance to any role and even if movie doesn’t work, his performance usually shines. His performance in The Little Things is quite good. Part of what makes Denzel Washington so appealing, especially in The Little Things, is that he always stays consistent to his lead roles. Washington embodies everything about a lead character that we expect and love. His character in The Little Things is one with a dark and tortured past, yet at the same time, it’s one with humanity and dignity. On that level regularity, Washington really shines in this movie. His partner, Rami Malek, is also great in this movie. The chemistry they share on screen is magnificent and both of them elevate the weak material that the movie, unfortunately, has. Jared Leto, on the other hand, is the best actor to exemplify a true creep. Leto is an exceptional talent, despite what some might say, and his performance in The Little Things is blood-curling and chilling. Every posture and line delivery of his is severely uncomfortable, but for a character that’s meant to be frightening, Leto successfully pulls it off.
The performances in The Little Things are, without question, the best thing that it is has, but that doesn’t save for how poor and unengaging this movie turned out to be. The overall sense of mystery to this movie felt unoriginal, nor did it have intention on contributing anything new or exciting for the genre. Mystery movies where someone is killed sounds pretty basic, but as long as it’s something that can fully engage you, then a lot can be forgiven and no one is going to care that if it’s been done before in a variety of mystery movies. The problem with The Little Things is that the level of mystery feels weak and severely defective.
John Lee Hancock is a director that deserves more credit as a filmmaker. Granted, he may not be on the level of a Steven Spielberg or a Martin Scorsese, but Mr Hancock has proven to deliver on solid and enjoyable motion pictures, with movies such as Saving Mr. Banks or The Founder. However, his attempt to go down the Neo-noir thriller didn’t pay off the way he hoped it would. The problem with his vision is that it never went as deep in the atmosphere or the psychological repercussions with the murder case or the characters, nor does it really develop the characters. You are given this side story with Denzel Washington’s character that does have a presence, but it comes across as an after thought. It didn’t dive as deep enough to his backstory to flesh out his character and to make him more dynamic. Same for the murder case. The vibe of the case almost felt very surface level and while some critics have called The Little Things a carbon copy of David Fincher’s Seven, suffice to say it’s very similar, but much more inferior.
If you’re looking for a movie with three great performances, then The Little Things is the movie for you. But if you’re looking for a great mystery to sink you’re teeth in, this movie doesn’t deliver on that promise. This isn’t the worst movie of the year nor is watching it a dreadful experience, but for a movie with three big name talents, a solid director and concept that sounds assuring, The Little Things is a disappointment from the true potential that it had in store.
My grade for The Little Things: C-
Zane's take at the Cinema's 