Writer-director John Lee Hancock’s police procedural is reminiscent of David Fincher’s Se7en but far less compelling than that 1995 thriller. Set in 1990 Los Angeles, the plot focuses on the search for a vicious serial killer.
The lead investigator is Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), a prim, smug young fellow always impeccably dressed in a black suit, who has thus far made little headway. His luck changes—though whether for better or worse is unclear—when he wins the help of Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington), a former L.A. detective who is still a legend in the department but now a deputy sheriff elsewhere just visiting the city.
Greeted coolly by his old commander, Deke catches Baxter’s eye, and the younger man invites him to come along to the scene of the killer’s latest crime, where his expertise in noticing the minutiae that can close cases becomes evident. Deke agrees to remains in L.A. and assists Baxter because he believes the murders might be related to the unsolved case that led to his own divorce, heart surgery, and retirement. Through a combination of instinct and research, he identifies Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), a slovenly, creepy electrician, as the prime suspect.
Sparma proves far too cagey to be induced to confess, and so Deke and Baxter tail him incessantly, though without managing to secure the necessary evidence. That leads to an implausible conclusion in which Sparma persuades Baxter, who has become obsessed with finding out the truth, to accompany him into the desert, where he promises to reveal where the body of his latest victim is buried. What occurs there might not be quite so dark and depressing as the outcome of Se7en, but its degree of cynicism is similar.
The Little Things boasts a complex plot if not an especially clever one, but it creates a glumly menacing atmosphere, and the acting power is undeniable. Washington is in entirely dependable form, although the role is not as demanding as others he has taken. Malek is not nearly as comfortable; he appears hemmed in by the prissiness of the character until the final act when Baxter abruptly unravels. By contrast, Leto makes a flamboyantly over-the-top villain. With his Charles Manson hairdo and beard, scruffy wardrobe, prominent paunch, swaggering style, and malicious grin Sparma cuts a memorable figure, and Leto’s showy performance frankly overshadows the nominal stars.
In the end, however, Sparma is not as smart as he thinks he is, and neither is the film: Se7en had a diabolical cunning that Hancock’s effort lacks. Nonetheless, it may satisfy aficionados of nasty crime dramas—or fans of its stars.
Two bonus featurettes are included: Four Shades of Blue (9 min.), showcasing Denzel Washington’s performances in four police films, and A Contrast in Styles (8 min.), a “behind the scenes” short comparing the characters and performances of Washington and Malek. A strong optional purchase.