THE LITTLE THINGS
US, 2021, 127 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer, Michael Hyatt, Terry Kinney, Natalie Morales, Isabel Arraiza, Glenn Morshower, Lee Garlington.
Directed by John Lee Hancock.
The Little Things refers, of course, to attention to detail. However, the choice of the word little, has overtones of a certain daintiiness in detail. Not exactly the case here.
Over the last decade and more, audiences have become accustomed to see Denzel Washington as an action hero, in the West, in the gangster world, in police enforcement. This is police enforcement.
We know we are in sure hands when we see the reliable Denzel as Joe Deacon, serving in the Californian country community, going to Los Angeles to pick up evidence for a case. Actually, as you might expect, he has a history in Los Angeles, a top detective, but disappointed in a case, considering it failure, his resignation, divorce, moving out of the city. But, he still has instincts.
He meets friends in LA, does some revisiting of old haunts, making his base a seedy flophouse but is somewhat intrigued by a rather dapper young detective, suit and tie, giving press conferences concerning murders of women, the prospect of a serial killer. The young detective, Jimmy Baxter, has Rai Malek moving on from award-success with Freddie Mercury and a Bond villain. It seems unlikely at first, given the different styles of the two men, the older loner (and a visit to his ex-wife for a moment), the younger with wife and children, a family man. And so begins a practical apprenticeship.
Joe Deacon is shrewd, works behind the scenes, investigates where most would not think to search. Then, as soon as we see him, there is the potential villain, Albert Sparma, Jared Leto, penetrating eyes, suspicious, sinister…
Which means that a lot of the action of the film is cat and mouse work, Sparma being shrewd and manipulative. Eventually, of course, wild and confrontation.
However, there are some unexpected revelations at the end of the film, more about Joe Deacon and his past career, his work, his collaboration with the authorities in LA after a fatal shooting the understanding his motivations for his actions. His treatment of the younger man, tricked by Sparma, having to confront him, leading to a shooting which devastates him. Joe Deacon wants to help him, rehabilitate him.
So, while there is a great deal of action for action fans, there is an underlying human drama, played with seasoned experience by Denzel Washington and some ingenuous naivete by Rami Malek.
1. Police thriller? Investigation? Portrait of police, characters and work? The title and the reference to details
2. The 1990 setting, atmosphere, vehicles, posters? The Californian countryside and mountains? The highways? The city, streets, police precincts, flophouses, prostitute beats, shops, restaurants? The musical score?
3. The opening, the girl driving, the car in pursuit, the motel, escaping into the scrub, running out, the truck, the news of her death, violent murder? The information about the similar deaths? What they had in common? Many of the women prostitutes? The posters, the information, at the morgue, the bodies and examination?
4. Denzel Washington as Joe Deacon, age, police, in the country town, deputy, his boss, sending him to the city to collect evidence? In the city, his former boss, gradual
revelations about his work, workaholic, investigations, frustrations, no solutions, physical and mental break, divorce? The reactions of the police and the precinct? Friends, critics? At the morgue, his bond with the chief examiner?
5. Joe Deacon, noticing Jimmy Baxter, observing him, at the press conference? Their talking, interactions, breakfast, discussing the crimes, methods? The bonding between them? Jimmy in charge, yet apprenticed to Joe?
6. Jimmy Baxter, his age, experience, reputation, in charge of the investigation? At home, loving wife, the two daughters? Joe and his visit and charming the family? Jimmy as serious, suit and tie? Gradually mellowing, but intense in his pursuit of suspects?
7. The crime scene, Joe going, Jimmy in charge, the body, the fridge, the body moved? Joe and his going to the building opposite, the chair? The fingerprints?
8. Joe, revisiting the apartment, the landlady, the fridge, repairs? His going to the repair shop, the interrogation, the second shop, the glimpse of Albert Sparma, the Manson look?
9. The pressures on the police, the FBI coming in in two days?
10. Joe, accommodation, the flophouse, the photos on the wall, Jimmy and his visit? Joe and his flashbacks, in his heyday, in charge, the investigation, the memories of the posed naked bodies, the girl witness? The memories preying on his mind? The suspect brought in, the interrogation, the man’s fears, denials, Jo suggesting the name, the news that he killed himself?
11. Albert Sparma as the suspect, his appearance, personality, his work, fitting the profile? His apartment, car, going to the gentlemen’s club? Joe and Jimmy following him? His taunting them? Brought in, the interrogation, his playing with them? The decoy, Joe going into his apartment, the search, the box with the newspaper articles? Sparma and his shrewdness, calling the police that a policeman was down? Joe escaping over the roof?
12. The continued vigil, Joe going for coffee, Sparma coming out, taunting Jimmy, their driving away, Joe in pursuit? The gate, the abandoned area, the promise of the dead bodies, Jimmy and his interview with the dead girl’s parents, the video, his motivation? Digging? Sparma and his taunts, Jimmy hitting him with the shovel, his death?
13. Joe, arrival, taking the situation in hand, going back to the apartment, collecting everything? The burial, bringing Jimmy back to his family? Jimmy and time off, sitting by the pool, desolate, his wife’s concern?
14. Joe, his support of Jimmy and the killing of Sparma? Joe’s return home, burning all Sparma’s possessions?
15. The red emblem, sending it to Jimmy?
16. The revelation of the truth about Joe, the accidental shooting, its effect on him, breakdown, and the morgue official and the cover-up, that she was stabbed rather than shot, seeing the bullet removed?
17. The parallel between Joe and Jimmy, the deaths, the cover-up?
