REVIEW: THE LITTLE THINGS

4/5

City Of Devils. 

127 Mins. Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Natalie Morales & Jared Leto. Director: John Lee Hancock. 

Nightcrawling through the City of Angels in snarling angry American muscle, coloured like the same bottleneck green day of when Detective Ray Vecchio in his vehicle headed 'Due South'. Winding through the creepy, sinewy streets that made Maya Hawke want to get out, with Gyllenhaal clawing knuckles on the steering wheel looking for prisoners like a snake. This is the city of angels without wings and 'Fallen' star Washington wants to clip and bring them to their capital punishment. But for your Sunday afternoon crime buff solving this neo-noir that's sin wants to be all 'Se7en' for your six is more like Denzel's 'Devil In A Blue Dress' for your Dick Tracy investigation. Although this isn't the 1940's of Hollywoodland, but instead the mid-90's of the time that movie came out. Set in a Venice Beach skateboard time frame as aesthetic as the Gwen Stefani poster on a lost girl victims wall, no doubt. This is a classic crime thriller for your Los Angeles Times ready to grab the headlines. Even if the movie review section of your newspaper's column is getting shorter and shorter. Director John Lee Hancock knows how to work his as he creates something straight out the pages of a 'Black Dahlia' novel. Hancock has knocked it out of the park ever since he was 'The Rookie'. There was the home run of 'The Blind Side' Oscar touchdown. The historical dramas of Walt Disney and Mary Poppins in 'Saving Mr. Banks' and the nuggets of Michael Keaton's ham-burgled McDonald's empire in 'The Founder'. John Lee who has a name straight out of Hollywood's old wild west even caught Bonnie and Clyde with 'The Highwaymen' of Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson on Netflix. But with this the ever fresh and versatile director truly gives us something else. Something as 'L.A. Confidential' noir as cigarette ash brushed off typewriter keys and "hush, hush" DeVito.

Weaving webs that follow the thread of a spider-diagram all the way to the morgue, this movie that moves as slowly as the stakes of burnt out butts and senses shows mining and mind hunting crime in these thrillers is all about the influence of the investigation and not what is solved or resolved in justice. But with cases as closed as the dry storm drains in the city of Los Angeles, does this mean this drive has a 'Zodiac' sign? There's no winners in this city of champions as Denzel Washington sobering sheriff in a GMC is nursing more than heart pills next to his badge in his glove compartment. Winding through the flat circles of the highways like a 'True Detective', like 'Philadelphia' co-star Tom Hanks' 'News Of The World' on shelves now this California nightmare is Washington's best in years for his glory. And "OK, OK" (Jamie Foxx and Jay Pharoah doing their best impression) we know Denzel has given us his Oscar nominated 'Roman J. Israel, Esq.', 'The Magnificent Seven' and the underrated, great 'Equalizer' series of movies over the past few. And while the 'Fences' actor/director is adapting more of August Wilson's work with the wonderful Viola Davis for his seven play series and Netflix with the late, great Chadwick Boseman's last and best performance (and this is the 'Black Panther' who played Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and "GOOD GOD", James Brown), he's still producing his best like 'Inside Man', 'American Gangster' and 'Training Day' for the side of LA where the sun doesn't shine. This isn't a reliable vet like his cop calling card. This is the GOAT like Jordan in the 90's. And even with shades of blue like the devil of that same dress, this is far then his last dance no matter who thinks he's losing a few steps. 

Partner pair him with the Mercury rising talents of Best Actor Rami Malek and you have a winning combination like a 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in this beatnik composition of a city. Case counselling on the bridge, looking out towards their investigation. This young king who has played a Queen and Prince in 'Night At The Museum' and exhibit and embody anyone (word to Scarlett Johansson). So much so like 'No Time To Die' for a 007 movie that's had more release dates than someone on bond he's about to be the new classic villain for Daniel Craig's last and the franchises 25th James Bond movie, (whenever that comes out like tomorrow never dies). Shaking and stirring us with his "you made this choice" sinister whisper in the 30 second Superbowl spot, you just know that this one is going to be another victory for Rami. Even without the height or breadth of Jaws, this man with Freddie incisors can take your breath away as he can hold any tune. There's just something haunting about those eyes. The type that can go from sinister to sweet in a second like sugar or salt. But here just when you think they are about to be slicked back with cop slime, they actually reveal a deeper truth that is by the book in one of Malek's most masterful character break downs yet. The 'Mr. Robot' star of the digital era, takes us from the underground and underbelly and digs at his most complex character study in his career...and this man played Freddie like EH-OH! But in this big-three show that also features a criminally underused but completely undeniable Natalie Morales of 'Dead To Me', 'Battle Of The Sexes' and 'Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps', it's Jared Leto's suspected serial killer that keeps ups 30 seconds to Mars from a red rage in this city of lost angels that he just may have the trunk space for. From being flash lit illuminated and looking like 'Morbius' Marvel demon that's still put on hold like payphones, this bite sucking suspect that even folds his pizza like a creep really gets his teeth into the blood of this pale skinned demon in angel city. The man who comes out to act only when Oscars are coming down ('Dallas Buyers Club') in drag, or Bale's of axes are like Huey Lewis and the News ('American Psycho' (the got his revenge in his Japanese outstanding 'Outsider' of the Yakuza on Netflix)) is incredible here despite his despicable character. Bringing a creepy charisma you wish wasn't the charm as he cracks clichés like another Joker he played like it was all Suicide. That's just how good the 'Blade Runner 2049' actor really is. That's just Jared Leto's way. Comb through this one like his characters scraggy, greasy hair or a fine tooth and you'll see the roots of his character acting. It makes for one hell of a diverse and definitive class of a cast. Three of a kind. Academy Award winner, Denzel Washington, Academy Award winner, Rami Malek, Academy Award winner, Jared Leto. Three Oscar winners on the table is going to serve you and interrogate some real inspiration whilst we're all cuffed to our chairs on house arrest behind the glass. They just don't make 'em like this anymore, like the vintage I.D. of the Warner Bros water tower. Once upon a time in Hollywood, drive-in to this prime piece of HBO real estate that takes it to the max like an all night stake out that lasts longer than the 'Zodiac' case. Shrouded in bitter loneliness and drenched in the neon night of L.A. noire, 'The Little Things' makes a big splash. Even when those sized screens are as of right now a thing of the past. It's the little things. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Devil In A Blue Dress', 'Nightcrawler', 'Prisoners'.