The Little Things (HBO Max)

The Little Things (HBO Max)

If you have three academy award winning actors in the same crime thriller and two of them are cops, who do you think is the bad guy? So much for tension. The best I can say about the movie is I found it disappointing. There was not enough meat on the bone for these stars and a poor script.

This is about unsolved murders of a serial killer in the Los Angeles area. I think they wanted to recreate the mood of the Zodiac and Night Stacker killers. One cop  is a demoted  detective,  who teams up with cocky young detective. They work together to solve what they think is the same case. The story could have been more developed with greater interaction with the killer and the killers motivation. Too much was left to the end of the film where there were some important reveals. One ending scene was just not credible.  

Denzel Washington has  bulked up. He plays his usual cool self with a crocked smile. This is a cake walk for him. Rami Malik was  miscast for the role as a tough L.A. detective. With those big dewy eyes he resembles Bambi more than a L.A. cop. His toughness is dubious. He plays the role too hard and was not convincing. Jared Lato wears his creepy Jesus face on a caffeine high. Of all of them Lato plays a good role.

I think this was a well intended effort that missed the mark.

Roman J. Israel Esq.

Roman J. Israel Esq.

Roman J. Israel Esq. is struck in the 60’s. Afro, tweed jackets with wide lapels and an Angela Davis poster on his wall. He is the backroom lawyer of a two lawyer firm. When his partner dies he is rudderless. Roman is either a savant, on the spectrum, neurotic or probably all three. With his copious legal knowledge, he secures employment with new owners of the old firm.

I do not want to call the movie dull, but it only gets interesting two thirds of the way in. Being the consummate actor Denzel Washington deliverers a yeoman’s performance. He has the walk, stooped shoulders and talks without thinking which defines Roman. He has a fall from grace betraying his lofty ideals. As with all down falls there is a price to pay, and he pays dearly. His downfall gives rise to a predictable ending which eliminating   suspense.

The other actor of note is Colin Farrell. He is the counter point to Roman. Sauvé, well appointed, confident and not bad looking. Roman creates problems for Farrell and himself.

The film veers of course. It starts out as film focusing on social injustices then it turns into a conventual semi-suspense movie with a predictable ending. Denzel Washington has a string of successful movies, but this one is a misfire.

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

The last time there was this much testosterone in one place is when the Russian women’s track team were in town. With all the dead bodies the magnificent seven shot they used every bit of their hormone. As gruesome as this sounds the movie is uplifting and enjoyable. The bad guy, played by Peter Sarsgaad, is murdering the locals and pillaging the town for its gold. The good guy, Denzel Washington, who ironically is all dressed in black riding a black horse is hired by a widow seeking revenge for the death of her husband.

The movie harkens back to the old western films. The town is a bunch of rickety wooden buildings. There are sweeping landscapes with red rock formations shaped like castles. There were the usual western outposts: the general stores, and the undertaker looking for business. There are saloon women of questionable reputations. These “ladies” looked a hell of a lot better than the original 1960 movie (but what did I know I was 11 at the time).

 The cast is wonderful. Their comradery was a work in progress jelling together at the critical moment; they are sympatico. All seven play important roles, but Denzel Washington, Chris Platt and Ethan Hawke have air time. Denzel is a steely eyed gun slinger who leads the seven. Chris Pratt delivers comic banter, but he is a dead shot also. Ethan Hawke is a former confederate soldier haunted by past battles.  Peter Sarsgaad interpretation of evil is sublime. With his pinched sweaty face and beady eyes, he kills without compunction.  The body count in the movie is impress but without gore. The bitter taste of revenge is palatable

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What was impressive about the movie was the minor characters contributed to movie with their own back stories and heroic deeds. The widow, played by Haley Bennett, held her own in the gun fights. She was the spirit of the resistance and a natural leader

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Honorable mention goes to Denzel Washington’s body double. His trick riding was quite impressive. No way did Denzel do that ridding. Oh, do I assume too much? I am sure Denzel and I acquired our equestrian skills at the same place, the Merry-Go-Round at Coney Island.

Homage must be paid to Akera Kurasawa’s film the Seven Samari which inspired both versions of the Magnificent Seven. Domo Agrigato.