The Little Things

The Little Things, a 2021 neo-noir thriller directed by John Lee Hancock, follows the story of Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon, played by Denzel Washington, who teams up with the seasoned Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant, Jim Baxter, portrayed by Rami Malek, to apprehend a serial killer wreaking havoc in Los Angeles. The film delves deeper into the complex dynamics between the two protagonists, unraveling their intricate pasts, and exploring themes of loneliness, humanity, and the darker aspects of human nature. The movie commences with Deke, a well-respected Deputy Sheriff from Kern County, receiving a notification from the Los Angeles Police Department about an ongoing investigation into a series of gruesome murders. These crimes have gone cold, leaving the police department with leads as cold-blooded as the victims themselves. Desperate to bring closure to the cases, Lieutenant Jim Baxter contacts Deke, proposing that he join forces with him to conduct an independent investigation. Despite initial reservations, Deke reluctantly agrees to collaborate, accepting the unique opportunity to join forces with Baxter and possibly redeem himself by solving this most severe of crime sprees. The unassuming setting of an abandoned gas station amidst endless miles of highway underscores the desolate landscape of the protagonists' psyche, serving as an early forewarning of the film's exploration of the darker recesses of the human mind. Deke is haunted by a traumatic event in his past, insidiously seeping into the narrative to reveal the nuances of a deeply troubled individual whose internal compass is riddled with cracks. The cryptic flashbacks provide an oblique glimpse into Deke's past, underscoring the film's emphasis on his intrinsic, deeply emotional response to the crime spree he's hoping to quash. The stark contrast between Deke and Bexter becomes increasingly pronounced as they embark on their investigation, painting an uncomplicated yet riveting portrait of people who are ultimately connected by their innate human longing for meaningful connection and resolution. The laconic expressionlessness exhibited by the ever-sardonic Deacon slowly yields, revealing an affectionate, disarming bond growing between Deke and Baxter, a connection bolstered by the cryptic bond fostered by the duality of their troubled histories. Baxter's somewhat exasperating, witticisms serve to offset the staid seriousness with which Deke approaches the investigation, their diverse approaches forcing their individuality to merge. Washington masterfully transcends the narrative thread by suggesting a universe imbued with sorrow, depicting Deke's introspective nature through the quietly piercing lines and gruff tone, resonating as an incisive voice unswayed by remorse. Throughout its course, The Little Things ruminates on the intricate relationships forged between characters whose emotional spectrum spans the gamut from stark selfishness to anguished devastation. Beneath its gripping facade, the film taps into our elemental human fear – the unending uncertainty - to highlight Baxter's subtilly embedded journey of loss and redemptive catharsis. As the investigation unfolds, compelling proof of Deke's connection to the case is unearthed, revealing the profound links that exist between Detective Charles Wright and two victims of the elusive serial killer, plunging both investigators head-first into a world from which they can't escape. A sense of momentum pervades the crime thriller as it swiftly shifts from its opening salvo of propulsive tension to an artfully crafted human drama grounded by the authenticity given by Washington and the sublime Malek. The tangled historical affinities between Deke and Baxter rise to the fore, guiding the investigations on a quixotic quest, driven by self-discovery as the narrative navigates the shifting cultural contexts of West Los Angeles. Simultaneously hinting at a shared cultural lineage while revealing the increasingly discordant notes emanating from Deke's disintegrating inner world, Hancock leads his audience on a narrowing trajectory that reveals the tragic converging paths which have ultimately led Baxter and Deke to share the same bitter, arduous struggle. Taut and skillfully guided by the incisive John Lee Hancock, the 2021 thriller eventually congeals into a mesmerizing fusion of hope, trauma, and an unwavering humanity as Deke and Baxter work tirelessly to uncover the prime perpetrator. However, upon their critical breakthrough the profound darkness of human empathy comes vividly alive as investigative reality seems to bluntly erode Deke's guarded façade, reining him in and exposing the lingering mysteries he has been trying to conceal from his unsuspecting partner, further immersing the film in hypnotic suspense. Battered by remorse over past personal failures and entangled in a most gut-wrenching of human conundrums, 'The Little Things' leaves its viewers as though riven - a world drained by irreparable disillusionment.