The Little Things

Warner Bros. | Release Date: January 29, 2021

5.7	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 159 Ratings

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garethvkJan 29, 2021

Academy Award Winners Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Remi Malek star in the new thriller “The Little Things” and combine to make very gripping and memorable performances.

The script was reportedly written over thirty years ago by JohnAcademy Award Winners Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Remi Malek star in the new thriller “The Little Things” and combine to make very gripping and memorable performances.

The script was reportedly written over thirty years ago by John Lee Hancock who has gone on to write, direct, and produce multiple films of note in the decades since he first created the screenplay.

The film is set in 1990 and involves a cop named Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington), who travels from his small California town to Los Angeles to get information on a suspect.

Joe has a history in L.A as he used to be a homicide detective for the department which combined with his meltdown while obsessing over a murder case has caused him more than a bit of notoriety.

Jim Baxter (Remi Malek) is the hotshot new Detective who has been leading the investigation into a string of unsolved murders. Joe accompanies Jim to a new crime scene and notes some similarities with his unsolved case.

Joe takes some personal days and begins to do some legwork on the case and reports his findings to Jim which causes Joe to remember aspects of what drove him to his marital, health, and career issues as he is unable and unwilling to let the case drop.

When a prime suspect no longer fits into the picture; suspicions fall on a crime enthusiast named Albert (Jared Leto) who seems to check all the boxes but is also taking delight in winding up Joe which causes Jim to question if he is a viable suspect or just an oddball who gets off on crimes and winding up the cops but does not actually commit any offenses.

As the delicate dance unfolds between the characters the fact that this is an era before Cell Phones, DNA tests, GPS, and elaborate computer networks helps underscore the plight of the officers. If the film was set in a modern setting much of the suspense and uncertainty of the story and characters would be moot thanks to technology.

As the game of cat and mouse unfolds between the characters Jim learns how a person can become obsessed with a case and Joe attempts to mentor him from the success and failures of his life which includes some gray areas.

Aside from the strong performances and engaging story what makes “The Little Things” work is that it is a film that does not take the Hollywood fallbacks of extended gunfights, car chases, and over the top action scenes. What it does show is real and flawed characters that are doing what they think is right and does not attempt to wrap things up in a nice and tidy package.

The film uses the element of doubt to not only drive the story but to help motizate the actions of the characters and underscore the elements of uncertainty exists in some investigations.

ambiguity also puts the focus on how investigations and procedures have evolved with the resources available to police.

The film will appear in cinemas and HBO Max and is a compelling and well-crafted thriller that is not to be missed.

4.5 stars out of 5… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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mrmonsterJan 31, 2021

An excellent thriller with great performances from Washington, Malek, and Leto.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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jeffw38Jan 29, 2021

Only marked down because of the ending. Otherwise this was a gripping movie with solid performances by the leads, especially Jared Leto who should be in the mix for an Oscar for his supporting role.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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SupermanMatosFeb 4, 2021

Great thriller movie carried by Leto’s performance. Denzel and Malek also gave solid performance as well. The last 25-30 min are a continuous suspense and the ending is not what any would have expected.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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ramirez667Feb 1, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Guess what??? Crimes are often not solved and anyone who can't comprehend that and believes the hollywood bs that every crime movie has an ending that brings the story full circle, is an idiot. This movie is a great telling of multiple lives in law enforcement that are affected by the crimes they deal with. It dives into the past,present, and future of careers and how the little things people deal with shape their lives. This is one of the most spot of movies that touches upon the reality of law enforcement officers, especially homicide detectives.… Expand

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OhmyfrecklesJan 30, 2021

Neo-noir cerebral slow burn at it’s finest! Don’t let the negative reviews fool ya. This film is for cinephiles not blockbuster fans.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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bfoore90Jan 30, 2021

Great cast and a good film up until the last 15 minutes or so. The script was written in 1993 and you can certainly tell as it feels dated and could have been better with further polish. On a positive note, up until the ending, the film isGreat cast and a good film up until the last 15 minutes or so. The script was written in 1993 and you can certainly tell as it feels dated and could have been better with further polish. On a positive note, up until the ending, the film is incredibly similar to that of David Fincher's Se7en. Its atmospheric, dark and psychological with thrilling moments to be had. Its a film thats definitely a good time but has its obvious flaws and draw backs.… Expand