The Little Things (2021)

Director: John Lee Hancock

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Runtime: 128 Minutes

Main Cast: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer, Michael Hyatt, Terry Kinney, Natalie Morales, Isabel Arraiza, Joris Jarsky

Plot: Deke (Denzel Washington), a deputy sheriff finds himself back in LA where he used to be a detective. There he teams up with the uptight Baxter (Rami Malek) in order to solve a case that Deke feels is connected to the case that led to his downfall years ago.

My Thoughts: Well, well, well. I didn’t expect this movie to be blowing up all over Twitter a week after watching it. Never in a million years would I have labelled The Little Things as an awards movie. Don’t get me wrong -I really enjoyed it, but award worthy? Nope. The movie is essentially a gripping serial killer case and that’s it’s strongest element. The cast is great, the trio of Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto works really well but I didn’t care for their characters. They felt two-dimensional and so I just wasn’t that invested in them. I love a good mystery though so I was hooked for the case.

It takes a while to pick up the pace and to see how the cases are linked, and even longer until we’re introduced to Jared Leto’s character, Sparma, but that’s when the shit really hits the fan. We’re convinced Sparma is guilty, of what we aren’t sure, but he’s slimy and so easy to dislike. It’s been a while since I hated a fictional character so strongly. Which, I guess is why Leto’s been nominated for both a Golden Globe and a SAG. I don’t get it. I’m prejudiced I know because I think Leto is a creep in general so that role didn’t take much acting.

I realise I’m sounding like a Debbie Downer so let me reiterate, I really liked this movie! I think in a previous life I was a detective, I got so absorbed into the case and the little clues and what they might all mean. The ending to The Little Things will probably put a lot of people off but I loved it. Plus, Jared Leto’s nominations will mean that this movie gets a bigger audience which is always a bonus!

Best Bit: There were two stand out moments for me. The first was when Deke was questioning Sparma at the station and he lost his cool – I felt a little bit scared myself! The ending though, ugh I’m a sucker. I won’t spoil it but my reaction was kind of like this “Oh man…okay then…what’s he…OH. WHAT!”

Worst Bit: Sparma’s smug reactions whilst flicking through those photos…I have never wanted to punch my TV so badly!

Fun Trivia: Writer/Director John Lee Hancock originally wrote the screenplay for the film almost 30 years ago (1993) after completing his work on the Clint Eastwood picture A Perfect World.

My Rating: 3 and a half red barrettes which I’m still screaming about.