Plot: What’s it about?
Movies about murder or psychopathic killers are, unfortunately, something that will likely never go out of style. My wife is a “true crime” junkie and it amazes me how many murders there are out there and why they feel the need to dramatize them for folks to watch. But I suppose if there’s an audience, then it pays to “entertain” people. Case in point, we’ve got The Little Things, a film that has roots back to the early 90’s but got stuck in “Hollywood Limbo” and it wasn’t until 2019 that it finally found a director and cast. Parallels to The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en will be thrown out, for sure, and with good reason – there are a lot of similarities. But this one seems to focus on the psychological aspects of a murder case as opposed to the gore. The talent is there with the three lead actors having four Academy Awards between them. The wait is (finally) over.
Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington) is a former LAPD detective who had some issues over a serial killer case he was unable to crack. He still carries a ton of guilt from the issue and is now a deputy in a small town in Northern California. Some routine business takes him back to his old stomping grounds where he meets Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), the guy who took Deacon’s job. Baxter’s an arrogant man who’s trying to solve a case and asks Deacon to consult. It seems that young women keep turning up dead and he’s no closer to solving the case than when he started. Deacon, back in L.A., has some issues and he starts to wonder if the cases are related. Some clues point to Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), a loner who’s obsessed with crime and works in an appliance store. Deacon and Baxter look for any and all clues that would seem to implicate Sparma – who seems to enjoy toying with the men.
I’d noted that there are parallels to other “serial killer” movies and that’s no lie. But what The Little Things does is alter the perspective and gives us a look at some of the psychological turmoil that the investigators go through. I can’t imagine seeing dead body after dead body and not be impacted in some way. Many films will highlight the killer, or some grandiose action-packed final scene (i.e. Se7en) but that’s not really the case here. As I alluded to, there’s no shortage of acting talent involved and they all play it low key (something Washington is known for) and it’s the right approach. But there just seemed to be an element missing and I can’t seem to place my finger on it. Even at a 2 hour plus running time, things don’t seem to be tied up. At any rate, it’s a fine movie with great performances, but maybe the decades in limbo did something to the overall impact?
Video: How’s it look?
I’d not seen Warner’s Blu-ray that came out when the film hit the format a few years ago. I don’t know if I was passed over on the product or I simply forgot to request it. At any rate, I don’t have an antecedent so as per usual – I’ll just call it like I see it. Having said that, this 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image delivers the good with strong, bold colors, striking contrast and exceptional detail. In essence – everything we’d expect from an (essentially) new-to-the-format film. Outdoor shots give us nice views with plenty of bokeh, we’re starting to see some aging on the seemingly ageless Denzel Washington and Jared Leto’s beard definition gives us all we’d need in the resolution department. In short, it’s a stunning transfer.
Audio: How’s it sound?
After having done a bit of research, it appears as if the Blu-ray had a DTS HD Master Audio mix and this 4K offering ups the ante with Dolby Atmos. I doubt we’ll hear any complaints. All in all, it’s a good, nice and well-rounded mix that’s sure to please and I did enjoy Thomas Newman’s score. It’s a bit front heavy to be sure, but there are plenty of atmospheric elements that kept my head turning at several times throughout. There’s nothing to “in your face” about this, vocals are pure and crisp as well. All in all, it’s a good mix and (most likely) a worthwhile upgrade to the Blu-ray.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Four Shades of Blue – If you’re a fan of Denzel Washington or the actor as a cop or the actor as a cop in Warner movies then this feature is for you. His roles in Ricochet, Fallen and Training Day are all explored.
- A Contrast in Styles – In a more straightforward approach to a feature, we get comments from director John Lee Hancock as well as the producer and stars Rami Malek, Denzel Washington and Jared Leto.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
It’s been said not to judge a book by its cover. I apply that as judging a film by its cover art. On the surface, we’ve got all the elements of a great movie. And it’s not bad by any means – the talent is there. For me, however, it just never seemed to kick in. Still, for those out there that are fans, The Little Things offers up a better picture and sound than its Blu-ray predecessor.
