The Little Things

A very underrated old-school thriller about the hunt for a serial killer, played by the excellently sleazy Jared Leto, who is pursued by Denzel Washington, playing his typical great role, and helped by a solid Rami Malek. The film unfolds at a slower pace, but surprisingly never bores, as there are three excellent actors on the scene who can hold your attention. I liked the dialogues, the atmosphere, the collection of evidence, the visuals, and the story itself with its unexpected final resolution. Those who expected another Se7en will be disappointed, but those who expect a decent, well-acted, and engaging crime film shouldn't complain. I enjoy films about serial killers, and although I would have welcomed the explicit depiction of deaths on camera, it didn't bother me that much this time. Story****, Action>No, Humor>No, Violence**, Entertainment****, Music*** , Visuals****, Atmosphere****, Tension****. 7/10. (01/31/2021)

As is customary here at FilmBooster, a film that goes against the grain, is idiosyncratic and goes against audience expectations is brutally underrated. Not that it surprises me, really. This is an atmospheric treat with Thomas Newman's uncharacteristic, congenial score that fits right in with the slow-paced story, whose screenplay is cleverer than it might initially seem thanks to the unraveling of the mystery of Joe Deacon's character and the ambivalent climax. And Jared Leto, who at other times is not one of my favourites with his mannerisms, is a class act here. (02/09/2021)

Once again, I've been convinced that the local reviews sometimes make absolutely no sense. The Little Things is a worthy addition to the old school detective and crime genre. And it’s not just the 90s setting; the overall tone is one of slower pace, giving space to excellently written dialogues, with no unnecessary rush. The cast here is top-notch—Denzel Washington is classically great, and Rami Malek surprised me (I was a bit concerned about whether he could handle this dramatic detective role, but he tackled it like a pro). For me, though, the standout of the main trio was Jared Leto; his appearance injected fresh energy into the film. I enjoyed the individual exchanges between all the characters, and kudos also go to the person responsible for the music. The story picked up considerable momentum towards the end. Clearly, it’s not an action film, but if someone was expecting something in this more intimate style, they must have enjoyed it. I did. Even the intriguingly chosen ending had its merits. Objectively, it might be closer to a seven, but I’m happy to add that extra point. 8/10 (06/29/2021)

The Little Things is very well put together. When they reveal the cards at the end and we can see the concept as a whole, what the creators actually wanted to do, it looks like a very good idea. It’s a pity that the film never goes deeper and we don’t get to experience the search for the murderer of young girls together with the detective. If the viewer had been more emotionally invested, the resolution would have been like a slap in the face and The Little Things could have become a new thriller classic. The way it is, though, I can appreciate it rationally, but there wasn’t any real enjoyment. (01/30/2021)

Another retro thing that borders weirdness and remarkableness, restrained by a boring script and a weak climax. Yes, it lacks the nice grittiness and filth of the 90s and the characters are almost surprisingly forgettable, but Hancock surprises again when the detective storyline everyone expected turns out to be only a cover for a different and more intimate tale. One that is not very attractive, it’s missing a dense atmosphere and clues that will truly draw you into it, but… That lack of clues ends up being a pretty smart trick and after the reveal I was truly sorry that they didn’t take a more ingenious and formally creative path towards a stronger ending. It’s not a stupid film by any means, and I will gladly go back to it some day, but right now what prevails is the disappointment over the squandered potential of a premise that so boldly interweaves several layers of attention. Despite the clear similarities to Se7en, I’ve no clue what I could compare the ending with, and that’s something I certainly take as a plus. 65% (01/29/2021)