‘Little Things’ could have used a broader focus
Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, and Jared Leto are three of the finest actors of this century, with all winning Oscars in the past 20 years and consistently lifting the quality of their films.
One would assume that if all three were in the same movie, said film would be a cinematic gem. Yet “The Little Things” does not shine as bright as it should.
The opening scene consists of a woman on a desolate highway being followed by someone sinister. It is tense and well done, but it seems like it belongs in another film. My viewing partner remarked: “It feels like that scene would have been even better on the big screen.” I had to agree with him.
Point of view
And the rest of the film did not change my opinion. Other than the opening scene, the film focuses almost exclusively on the point of view of the investigators.
We get snippets of the home life of Malek’s whippersnapper Detective Baxter, but not much to flesh out his character. Slow-building flashback sequences clue us into a key part of the life of retired detective-turned sheriff’s Deputy Joe Deacon (Washington). We find out why he is so motivated to help Baxter with a new murder case, but not a whole lot else.
The case is clearly the most important thing to the film; nearly all dialogue centers on it. For true crime buffs, this may be a good thing. For those of us wishing to see a balanced movie, it leaves us wanting.
As the enigmatic, potential murderer, Leto sparkles. Is he a killer? Or is he just having a laugh with the police? He plays it perfectly. More screen time for him would have really helped the film.
The title “The Little Things” arises from Deacon’s repeated soliloquies that “When it comes to solving murders, it’s all about the little things.” Director John Lee Hancock certainly delves into the nuances and minutiae of detective work. The mood Hancock sets is perfect, but he tends to let the little things bog everything down. Available on HBO Max through February. B-
Quarantine TV
“Walking Dead: World Beyond.” A third show in this world, focused on teenagers, seemed at first sight to be a lost cause. Yet it has a specific story to tell and does it very well. A rebound for the franchise. AMC.
“WandaVision.” A goofy, yet heartfelt take on two of the secondary characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It hits all the right notes and fits in perfectly within the MCU. Disney+
“The Expanse.” Season 5 is so far one of its best. The finest sci-fi show since “Battlestar Galactica” is also a clear window into the future of Earth’s space travel. Amazon Prime.
Jeff Mellinger is a screen writer and film buff. He holds a BA in Film Studies and an MFA in film production. He lives in Concord. Email comments to editor@pioneerpublishers.com.