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Every one of us has had those defining moments in life—moments that have changed everything. In writer/director John Lee Hancock’s crime thriller The Little Things, one seasoned cop finds himself rehashing that defining moment in his life while a young detective races toward his.
The Little Things stars Denzel Washington as Joe Deacon, a cop from a small town in California who’s sent back to his old precinct in LA to pick up some evidence. Once he’s there, he finds himself caught up in the ongoing investigation into a series of brutal murders—murders that are all too similar to the case that he was working five years ago. And though he thought he left the case behind, he can’t stop himself from trying to help young hotshot detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) hunt for the killer.
As Joe follows the clues from the most recent murders, the investigation takes him back five years, to the unsolved murders that changed his life forever. But this isn’t just an investigation; it’s clear that it’s an obsession—something that’s haunted Joe since he left the department. As soon as that door is opened up for him again, he doesn’t hesitate before walking right through, calling in his vacation time so he can dig out old case files and hit the streets. He’s joined by the young detective who has his own reasons for being obsessed with the case, and they end up side by side, wrapped up in the case and the leads—and determined to do whatever it takes to prove the guilt of their chief suspect, Jared Leto’s Albert Sparma, a creepy crime buff with a serious attitude.
At times, the writing falls short. Key plot points go by in a flash, with hardly any mention; discussions that seem significant get little more than a couple of lines. And while some unanswered questions add to the mystery, others can be frustrating. Still, the film’s talented costars make its shortcoming easy to forget. Washington gives another strong performance as the world-weary deputy who’s haunted by a troubled past—and when the three of these Oscar-winning stars are in the same scene, they’re so captivating that you might realize that you’ve stopped breathing.
Together, they guide audiences through a dark, engrossing mystery—a story of secrets and obsessions that will keep you guessing even after it ends.
This twisting mystery comes with an intriguing if flawed story that will keep you on your toes. But it also boasts a remarkable cast that takes the story and makes it come alive on the screen.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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