The Little Things
Overview
The Little Things is a 2021 neo-noir psychological crime thriller film written and directed by John Lee Hancock, starring Denzel Washington as Joe "Deke" Deacon, a burned-out former detective; Rami Malek as Jim Baxter, a young, ambitious detective; and Jared Leto as Albert Sparma, a creepy, mysterious suspect. The film is set in the 1990s. Deke is working as a deputy in Kern County, but he is called back to Los Angeles to help Baxter investigate a series of murders. They suspect Sparma, but they cannot prove it. The film is a slow-burn, atmospheric, and unsettling thriller, focused on the psychological toll of the investigation. Jared Leto gives a creepy, Oscar-nominated performance as the strange, enigmatic Sparma. The film was a commercial success, earning over $30 million on a $30 million budget, but it was panned by critics. The film is a throwback to 1990s thrillers like Se7en, but it is not as good as those films. It is a solid, well-acted thriller that is worth watching for the performances alone.
