Films like Memories of Murder and Zodiac did this far better, and the way Hancock resolves his plot feels particularly icky when put into the context of events both contemporary to when he first started this script and current social ills. Here\'s my full review. He resides in Atlanta with his wife and their dog Jack. While it’s hard to know if this was Hancock’s intention, I came away from The Little Things pondering the way fictional crime mysteries have negatively affected real-life police work. Is 'The Little Things' on Hulu? The Little Things, the new Denzel Washington movie opening simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max this Friday, opens with a scene that you’ve … When Will 'All American' Season 3, Episode 9 Air on The CW? ET. 17,055, This story has been shared 1,792 times. He cashes in on his vacation days and stays in LA to help Baxter solve the case. This review of a theatrical release is not an endorsement or suggestion otherwise. Where To Watch. Leto’s Sparma feels like he went to Party City, bought the “Serial Killer” costume, and can’t wait to show it off to everyone he meets. So, what really happened? But then it doesn’t. 876, This story has been shared 659 times. This story has been shared 17,055 times. This is to assure Jimmy that he is right in what he did to Albert. Sign up for email updates which include new streaming series and movie recommendations. How To Watch TNT's 'Inside The NBA' Documentary Live Online, Netflix Renews 'Selling Sunset' For Seasons 4 and 5. ‘The Little Things’ Review: Washington and Malek Are Haunted Detectives in Strong Serial Killer Throwback . The movie stars Denzel Washington and Rami Malek as characters working for the police. Find out in my review on HBO Max's mystery thriller "The Little Things!" The Little Things is brand-new on HBO Max this month, but you'd be forgiven for thinking you half-remember it from flipping channels back in the '90s. Is There a New Episode of 'This Is Us' Tonight? The latest HBO Max movie The Little Things features an impressive cast and tells a compelling mystery revolving around the search for a serial killer.Denzel Washington stars as a former detective who helps a young detective (Rami Malek) with his latest case. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Meghan McCain is "Over It" as She and Joy Behar Get Into Another Screaming Match on 'The View', © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Doc Rotten from Horror News Radio. 463, This story has been shared 416 times. The film’s conclusion shows that “The Little Things” is actually a buddy film. Summary. Not to alarm anyone, but HBO Max has some seriously good options for movie night. The film topped the domestic weekend box office with an … That’s all the time he needs to get sucked into a new serial killer case, led by detective Jimmy Baxter (Malek). 898, This story has been shared 876 times. Once there, he comes across hotshot detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), who’s working a case involving the serial murder of young women. Director John Lee Hancock forgets it’s The Little Things that set movies apart. It’s a pleasure to watch two powerhouses—one a celebrated veteran, the other a rising star—do their thing together, so much so that you almost wish The Little Things were a more traditional buddy cop saga, just to have more time with those characters. The Little Things Review: Denzel Washington Elevates Slow Burn Crime Drama on HBO Max. He’s been so good for so long in so many things that we simply take him for granted. Our HBO Max review: It’s a solid service that still needs a little work. The Little Things is in theaters and on HBO Max on January 29. Being asked to play an everyman like Baxter doesn’t do Malek any favors because his whole demeanor is a little too offbeat and strange to make us buy into his character. Update: Dec. 16, 2020 – We have updated this HBO Max review to … As the site's Chief Film Critic, he has authored hundreds of reviews and covered major film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. What Was the Poem Read on 'NCIS' Season 18? This one has been highly anticipated thanks to its cast and the fact that it’s a serial killer movie. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, direction, and atmosphere but noted the film as familiar and criticized the screenplay, with some comparing it unfavorably to the 1995 film Seven . Another review here! She pulls over at a gas station, screaming for help. They’re best when they’re not sharing the screen with Leto—the actor’s public persona too often blends with his creepy characters, but even factoring for that, he doesn’t seem to be on the same page as his co-stars. How to Watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Oprah Interview. A young girl is driving alone at night in the middle of nowhere. Hey everyone! 2. By clicking "SIGN UP" above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Notice. One would expect a movie that took 30 years to make and stars three Oscar-winners would somehow upend expectations, but until its final act, there’s not much of a twist, and when Hancock does shift directions, he does so in a way that feels oddly tone deaf. And Cry… Denzel Washington, Jared Leto and Rami Malek collide in this crime thriller opening in theaters and on HBO Max today! Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city. Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Covering the hottest movie and TV topics that fans want. Both Deacon and Baxter have a gut feeling about Albert. The go-to source for comic book and superhero movie fans. Here's When 'This Is Us' Returns, With 'Men in Kilts,' Sam Heughan is Embodying His 'Outlander' Hunk Status Off-Screen, Too, Meghan Markle’s Look from Oprah Interview: Where To Buy That Dress and Necklace, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix Deal: Here's What We Know, Eddie Murphy’s Daughter, Bella Murphy, Makes Her Screen Debut in 'Coming 2 America'. If you’ve read the movie synopsis—that Washington and Rami Malek are cops hunting down a serial killer—you’re almost sure of what’s about to happen. Review Date January 29th, 2021 by Bryan Kluger. Another car starts tailing her, harassing her, and chasing her. When the film does finally reveal what it’s trying to do in its third act, I couldn’t help but meet the outcome with an annoyed shrug. The result is a crime thriller that moves at the pace of a Texas drawl. It’s not that Malek or Leto are “bad”, as much as neither one is used particularly well here. And Crystal Cleveland, the Livin6Dead6irl from Decades of Horror: 1980s share their thoughts about this week's awesome collection of streaming horror films. Joe Deacon (Denzel Washington) is a veteran detective who helps guide Detective Jimmy Baxter (Rami Malek) in an array of recent murders. Joe sends new buddy Jimmy a red barrette, which was what the kidnapped victim was wearing the night she disappeared. That pretty much sums up the vibe of The Little Things: an unexpected take on the crime thriller genre, but one that gets a tad muddled along the way. That’s not to say that no one is ever allowed to make that kind of movie again, and certainly when you’ve got acclaimed acting talent like Hancock does here, one would think that the filmmaker had created a dazzling example of the genre. 1,702, This story has been shared 1,553 times. Aside from its thematic conclusions (which I won’t spoil here), there’s nothing particularly disruptive or unique about what the film is doing. I’d encourage viewers to stick it out. 00:27:45 - Tonight, we review THE LITTLE THINGS (2021, HBO Max). Instead of a gruesome, off-screen murder, the girl flags down a truck driver and the scene ends. The Little Things is fine for some stylish cinematography and reliably great Washington performance, but those don’t make up for all the other places where the film stumbles. American viewers can watch The Little Things on HBO Max starting Jan. 29 at 3 a.m. Director John Lee Hancock forgets it’s The Little Things that set movies apart. HBO Max YouTube ‘The Little Things’ on HBO Max has left viewers shocked and confused. No one is there. The doors are locked. Those expecting a straightforward crime thriller will be disappointed. 'WandaVision' on Disney+: How Successful Was Marvel Studios' First TV Series? Rather than taking a big swing, Hancock comes to a pat conclusion about our desire for finality in a profession that doesn’t always offer clear-cut answers. There’s a reason that hotel ad of him just naming things he likes came off as a cross between laughable and creepy, and that’s because “normal” is a bit outside his wheelhouse. Though it stumbles on the execution, you have to admire the effort. “The Little Things,” a cop drama starring the two-time Oscar winner, opened on Friday in cinemas and on HBO Max. The Little Things is a movie writer/director John Lee Hancock has been trying to make for 30 years, and after seeing the finished product, it’s bizarre that he would be so devoted to such a pedestrian effort. 412. Rotten Tomatoes score: TBD Three Oscar winners pack a triple punch when you watch The Little Things on HBO Max. HBO Max’s The Little Things has been deemed a less-captivating version of David Fincher ’s 1995 neo-noir crime thriller, Se7en, owing to the many similarities between the two pieces. Writer/director John Lee Hancock knows he’s got incredible talent on his hands, and he puts it to good use. Jeff Mohr from Decades of Horror: The Classic Era. 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Epidemiologists do not think it’s safe yet to go to theaters even with social distancing and safety measures in place. It’s not the type of performance that wins awards or shows up in a highlight reel, and yet it’s a performance that deserves our praise because Washington continues to deliver terrific work. Deke, a great detective who left the LAPD when a similar case obliterated his personal life, is drawn back into the mystery and decides to partner up with Baxter to work the investigation. They soon find a prime suspect (Jared Leto) who seems to enjoy toying with the investigators. Why Has the 'Bridgerton' Hype Left Phoebe Dynevor Behind? In case you’ve never seen a crime thriller about guilt and obsession before, here’s another one. Just How Bad Is Joss Whedon's 'Justice League,' Anyway? So, is the newest film starring Denzel Washington worth the watch? HBO Max movie The Little Things is a serial-killer procedural-cop thriller throwing us back to the 1990s without apology. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Now they just need evidence. It’s clear by the film’s end that these two men have come to care deeply about one and another, bonded by their compulsive obsessions. New movies and episodes of TV shows are added throughout the year. You don’t immediately learn what happened to her, nor is it clear how she fits into the story until much later. The Little Things, the new Denzel Washington movie opening simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max this Friday, opens with a scene that you’ve seen a thousand times before. Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington) is a deputy sheriff working in a rural county in October 1990 when he’s asked to go down to Los Angeles to pick up some evidence for a case. If anything, the film, despite ostensibly being a grisly crime thriller, is comforting for how closely it plays to the beats of a familiar genre. Doc Rotten from Horror News Radio. The Little Things takes place in a world where Deke and Baxter are so afraid of consequences, that they stage elaborate cover ups when in reality (a … Eventually, they narrow down their suspects to an odd man named Albert (Jared Leto). If you’ve seen a movie where detectives are consumed by the case they’re working, then you’ve basically seen The Little Things. Our handy, extensive guide is updated weekly with all-new picks. Denzel Washington and Rami Malek are electric in their one-on-one scenes; you can’t look away. “The Little Things,” the second of the Warner Bros. releases to open day and date with HBO Max, proved an easy #1 this weekend. It will be available to stream for 31 days before leaving the service. Our story is set in Los Angeles in 1990, a time when plot-hole-creating devices like cell phones and DNA testing didn’t exist. Matt Goldberg has been an editor with Collider since 2007. Eventually, their search leads them to the creepy and threatening Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), who seems to be goading them despite no evidence to connect him to the crimes. HBO Max Launches a Historic 2021 with ‘The Little Things’ Where 2019 saw the advent of the almighty streaming wars with emerging services like Disney+ and Apple TV Plus readying their rifles, 2020 found a much more crowded battlefield eager to draw blood. The first time we get a look at Sparma, I couldn’t help but laugh because everything about the character feels overdone in a way that voids any reasonable humanity from his person. Open the Browse menu in HBO Max (upper-left corner) and then choose Just Added. There’s really not much more to the movie than that. 659, This story has been shared 643 times. The ending of the movie had people wondering – who is the killer? Is it worth your time? Beyond The Trailer reaction & movie review 2021! To put it another way, look at a film like Prisoners, which is also about obsessions with people who appear guilty. Washington stars as Joe “Deke” Deacon, a local Kern County deputy sheriff who gets called upon to pick up some evidence from the Los Angeles Police Department. A pair of mismatched cops hunt a serial killer in 1990 Los Angeles, concurrently in … What Time Will 'WandaVision' Episode 9 Come Out on Disney+? HBO Max & Theaters! Malek excels when he’s playing outsiders. The HBO Max app is available on Roku, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android devices and Android TV, Chromecast, Fire TV, Playstation 4 and PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, as well as Samsung TVs (2016 and later) and Chrome, Firefox and … For mumbo-jumbo cop jargon reasons, Deacon has to stay in Los Angeles an extra night. 1,417, This story has been shared 1,272 times. Leto, in his desire to be creepy and unnerving, basically breaks the reality Hancock seeks to present. https://collider.com/the-little-things-review-hbo-max-denzel-washington Most noteworthy, however, will undoubtedly be the very creepy-looking Jared Leto. The Little Things is a movie with something to say. What Series and Movies Are Coming to HBO Max? The Little Things was released in the United States on January 29, 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as a month-long simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service. Matt, Adam, and Greg discuss the new HBO Max crime thriller. 1,272, This story has been shared 898 times. Summary. When we first heard that Denzel Washington had a new film coming to theaters and HBO Max, our interest was immediately piqued.But when we learned that the film’s cast also included Rami Malek and Jared Leto, we started counting down the days until its release.. Called The Little Things, the psychological thriller officially dropped on January 29—and the internet cannot stop talking about it. Joi… The 85 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now (March 2021), 'The Little Things' Review: HBO Max Thriller Is Too Conventional to Be Clever, that hotel ad of him just naming things he likes, More THE LITTLE THINGS is a new thriller on HBO Max. Get news & recommendations for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, and more, in your inbox. 2. On Netflix, A Spanish Comedy With A Big Heart & Stellar Cast, Stream It Or Skip It: 'Your Name Engraved Herein' on Netflix, Taiwan's Most Popular LGBTQ+ Film, Abby and Riley Are Inspiring Lots Of 'Happiest Season' Fanfiction, 'WandaVision' Head Writer Jac Schaeffer Breaks Down the Series Finale—and Beyond, Disney+ Crosses 100 Million Subscriber Mark, 'WandaVision' Finally Gave the Gays the Content We Crave. This film was reviewed via … 'SNL' Roasted Ted Cruz's Cancun Adventure (Just Like You Knew They Would), Horny For History: The Best Bodice-Ripping Sex Scenes. 537, This story has been shared 463 times. It’s refreshingly unexpected, but it’s also confusing. Warner Bros! Deacon has a reputation in the area, and we later learn it’s because he became consumed by a serial killer case that ruined his health, his marriage, and his career. HBO Max’s recent film The Little Things is a new paradigm of mystery that sets foot into uncharted territory through two unique perspectives. Sadly, the only real standout here, aside from John Schwartzman’s moody cinematography, is Washington. From Matt Goldberg, Kenneth Branagh to Direct Bee Gees Movie From 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Producer, Steven Spielberg and the Duffer Bros. 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HBO Max is off to a running start for 2021 by packing its content library with plenty of new titles for you to stream. After that, Deacon is all in. With Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer. The Little Things Movie Review today! John Callaham / @JCalAndAuth. But the way the “guilty” are framed renders them pitiable victims of circumstance and mental illness. It’s not entirely clear why Baxter invites Deacon to accompany him to the crime scene of a serial killer victim—a murder date, if you will—but he does. But those who are ready to critique the genre will be given something to chew on. 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The more he tries to “disappear” into his characters, the more obvious he appears, which is why his stronger work is when he’s playing an average person rather than some nefarious outsider. Sadly, the same cannot be said about his co-stars. Washington has now reached the point in his career where he’s on the level of someone like Meryl Streep or Tom Hanks. The Little Things - HBO MAX Review; The Little Things - HBO MAX Review. If you thought Locked Down on HBO Max was a snooze fest, The Little Things starring Denzel Washington is even worse. Jeff Mohr from Decades of Horror: The Classic Era. As for Leto, he’s an actor who’s constantly undone by his need to let the audience know how hard he’s working. 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