The Little Things

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)

Another of those dark, slow detective story in the style of Se7en, or Mystic River, that is atmospheric, ingeniously put together and hard to read in its means of expression, going against the audience's expectations. A tense crime drama with fantastic performances by Jared Leto and the odd duo of Denzel Washington and Rami Malek. It's not a particularly good role for former, but he didn't disgrace himself. It's not for a second viewing, but the creative level is solid. (05/09/2021)

The Little Things is an average buddy-detective flick with not entirely appropriate music by Thomas Newman and a detective who acts like an idiot in the climax. Washington and Malek are otherwise quite good together, the film isn’t boring and keeps you waiting for the thriller build-up and key plot twist, but in the end it is not in any way surprising. It’s worth seeing for Jared Leto’s bizarre, unsettling psycho character, which deserved a better screenplay. (01/29/2021)

An average detective story that changes direction quite dramatically after the appearance/disappearance of Jared. The weird system fraudster he plays, whose face beams constantly, even face to face with a cop who is stressed out and short of sleep, is the main plus of the movie. I appreciate the idea approaching things from a different side, but it could easily be shorter and more work should be done on the introduction and character motivation. This way they sometimes look like idiots who do things without any good reason. (03/12/2021)

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)