the little things (2021)
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Even our most celebrated actors have a movie or two that while not necessarily bad, are nondescript and forgettable entries in their otherwise sparkling catalogues. The Little Things is such a film for Denzel Washington. He’s wasted here. Why even bring him in to play the same old curmudgeonly sheriff we’ve seen a hundred times? I can’t pick out anything particularly interesting about the character that would require a thespian of Denzel’s caliber. The script is unfocused and meandering with a lack of direction that feels lifeless. The murders are supposed to be grisly and reminiscent of thrillers such as Seven or Kiss the Girls but all feel sterile and uninteresting. It doesn’t help that none of the victims have even a drop of character development. They have names and faces in the literal sense, but the script doesn’t lead you to believe that you should care about either. Jared Leto is the most compelling character on screen by a country mile. His quirky car mechanic with the awkward gait is weirdly likable even though I don’t think he was supposed to be. His characterization teeters back and forth between humorous and malevolent. It’s hard to tell whether to laugh at him or be frightened. I’m not sure the script knows which reaction it wants to engender. Rami Malek sleepwalks through the film and as with Denzel you wonder why he was cast to play such a dull character. There is no reason for me to recommend this film but if you’re reading this and you subscribe to HBO Max (and let’s be honest, you subscribe), you have nothing to lose in giving it a shot. Just don’t go in expecting anything close to what we’ve come to expect from Denzel or Rami.
The Little Things receives a score of 5/10 for general audiences with a half-point bonus for die-hard Leto fans. His performance is the only reason to watch this film.