One of the top 10 movies on HBO Max is Denzel Washington strange film The Little Things.
Everyone immediately recalls a different movie due to his tremendous celebrity status when they hear the name Denzel Washington. For instance, some people may recall him from Malcolm X. Others may recall him from Crimson Tide or Training Day. The Little Things, a 2021 movie, isn’t exactly what comes to mind right away. But, this fact hasn’t stopped it from climbing the streaming charts and reaching HBO Max’s top 10 this week.
Its impressive production is probably one of the reasons this bizarre Denzel Washington movie has done well on streaming. One of the best actors in Hollywood history, Denzel Washington, alone would have been enough for the film. But, he is accompanied by well-known actors, such as Rami Malek and Jared Leto. Apart from these three actors, the cast also includes outstanding supporting performers, like Chris Bauer, Terry Kinney, Michael Hyatt, and Natalia Morales.
The storyline is very simple in this movie. Rami Malek and Denzel Washington play two Los Angeles detectives looking into a string of murders in the 1990s. The major mystery in this tale isn’t a whodunit, but rather Jared Leto’s creepy recluse character, who they suspect may be the murderer. The biggest conundrum is about the creation of this odd movie.
Although the film wasn’t released until 2021, planning started in 1993. The script was finished at that time. Plus, a succession of different names was linked to the project, leading to development hell. Before making the questionable choice to direct this Denzel Washington film himself, John Lee Hancock wrote it with the intention of Steven Spielberg serving as the film’s director. He also decided on some other well-known names (such as Danny DeVito and Clint Eastwood).
We use the word “dubious” since numerous reviews ultimately panned the film. Even though critics gave it a 44% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences preferred it a little bit more. Many reviews pointed out that the screenplay is complete with essentials. But, an unpleasant and ambiguous ending was the movie’s main flaw, adding some salt to the wound. Apart from that, viewers lauded Denzel Washington and the other actors for their efforts to make the film entertaining.
Jared Leto received more compliments than either Rami Malek or Denzel Washington in the project. He earned nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was also a Golden Globe nominee for Best Supporting Actor. Though he ultimately did not win either trophy, The Little Things has a small but devoted following because of the strength of his performance.
Simply watch the movie on HBO Max if you want to join that crowd. Or maybe just see if it’s as horrible as everyone says it is. Once you have done so, you will be able to judge whether the performances enrich the script or the writing detracts from competent actors.
