The Little Things

The Little Things" arrives on Blu-ray with an impressive 1080p HD transfer, maintaining a professional and sleek presentation despite the absence of a 4K option. Warner Bros. has managed to circumvent this through a meticulously crafted transfer that showcases the film's innate darkness and moody atmosphere without sacrificing detail. Shadow delineation is exceptional, ensuring that even the dimmest scenes are laden with visible nuances, avoiding crush, and thereby enhancing the viewing experience. The color palette, while restrained, dramatically complements the film’s eerie essence; muted tones punctuate the gloom without unnecessary contrast enhancements, hence preserving its natural aesthetic. The digital source transitions seamlessly to disc, benefitting from ample storage space on a dual-layered disc to minimize compression artifacts and banding, resulting in an admirably clear and detailed picture quality.

Stylistically, the film’s 2.39:1 aspect ratio accentuates its heavy, foreboding atmosphere, with a color spectrum leaning towards cool, haunting hues that perfectly embody the thriller's ambiance. Interiors and nighttime cityscapes revel in nuanced lighting, allowing for an evocative display of colors amongst shadows. Noteworthy is the attention to detail in textures and surfaces under varying lighting conditions, from the realistic portrayal of skin tones to the intricate depiction of costumes and settings. Enhanced by intentional stylization, the film’s visual flair is evident in every scene, with careful consideration to how light interacts with the environment to produce a visually compelling narrative canvas.

Moreover, the Blu-ray excels in rendering both close-ups and broader shots with an impeccable level of clarity. Details such as facial features, clothing textures, and even the nuanced imperfections of character appearances are crisply presented, making for a visually engaging experience. The depth and intensity of darker scenes are balanced with moments of vivid coloration, creating a dynamic visual field that supports the storytelling without overshadowing it. Overall, "The Little Things" on Blu-ray stands out as a stellar example of how technical expertise can enhance the atmospheric tension and thematic depth of a film, ensuring a rewarding viewing experience that does justice to its darkly intriguing narrative.

The audio presentation of "The Little Things" on Blu-ray, featuring a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, manages to effectively immerse the viewer despite a notable absence of a Dolby Atmos option. While the film's dense, atmospheric quality might have benefitted significantly from the heightened immersive potential of an Atmos or even a 7.1 mix, the 5.1 track still triumphs in delivering a solid auditory experience. Channel transitions are smooth, ensuring that Thomas Newman's original score is appreciated without overwhelming, while dialogue remains impeccably clear. Ambient and discrete sound effects are well-utilized, particularly in creating tension and enhancing the film's eerie ambiance, though the lack of Atmos leaves one pondering the missed opportunities for a more enveloping sound field.

Fostering a slowly building tension through its meticulously crafted sound design, the film leverages quietude interspersed with sharply escalating audio cues to heighten the narrative's suspense. Environmental sounds, such as distant conversations and the mundane noises of city life, filter through the rear channels effectively, adding layers of realism. The audio track excels in its finesse—never dominating but rather subtly accentuating the chilling narrative with grace. Every sound, from the ominous silence to the sudden jolt of a gunshot or the unsettling noise of a shovel, is rendered with precision, making for a truly haunting experience.

Though the Blu-ray's audio setup might initially disappoint enthusiasts hoping for the latest in sound technology, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix ultimately stands as a testament to the power of a well-executed audio track. Even without Dolby Atmos, this release crafts an enveloping soundscape that supports and elevates "The Little Things." The mix ensures that every nuance of the film's sound design contributes meaningfully to the overall experience, from the subtlest rustle to the most jarring explosion. Subtitles in various languages, including English SDH, further complement the accessibility of this engaging audio presentation.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Little Things" offer a slim but insightful look into the thematic and aesthetic nuances of not just the movie, but also its place within Denzel Washington's broader portfolio of playing law enforcement roles. The packaging, criticized for its lackluster and somewhat spoiler-heavy design, contrasts sharply with the content's depth, particularly in the form of two featurettes. The first, "Four Shades of Blue," offers a retrospective analysis comparing Washington's roles in "Ricochet," "Fallen," "Training Day," and "The Little Things," through the lens of notable film critics. The second, "A Contrast In Styles," dives into the making of the film, featuring valuable insights from the director, producer, and lead cast. While the inclusion of these extras falls short compared to digital offerings on platforms like HBO Max, they still provide intriguing perspectives for fans and critics alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Four Shades of Blue: A retrospective analysis comparing Denzel Washington's portrayal of police officers in four distinct films, offering insights into his acting nuances and the thematic connections between these roles.

• A Contrast In Styles: Behind-the-scenes insights from the film's production team and cast, discussing character development, filming experiences, and thematic aspirations.

The Little Things," directed by John Lee Hancock, who also penned its script in the early '90s originally for Steven Spielberg, finds itself navigating the dense terrain of crime thrillers, a genre heavily populated by giants like David Fincher's "Se7en." Set in 1990 Los Angeles, the film introduces us to Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon (Denzel Washington) and detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek), who delve into a string of murders potentially linked to Albert Sparma (Jared Leto), a suspect as enigmatic as he is creepy. Despite its all-star cast and a plot thick with intrigue, "The Little Things" occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions, seemingly echoing the narrative and atmospheric beats of its predecessors without completely stepping out of their shadows.

The performances of Washington, Malek, and Leto are undeniably compelling, with Washington's portrayal of Deke—a cop haunted by his past and clutching at the threads of his sanity—as a standout. The chemistry between the leads, alongside a palpable tension that escalates with each unraveling layer of the investigation, somewhat mitigates the film's predictability. However, as the storyline inches towards its climax, the revelation and subsequent unraveling may leave audiences divided, particularly in light of contemporary critiques around police accountability and the ethical quandaries that envelop rogue detectives.

While "The Little Things" serves a hefty dose of suspense and a narrative that is engaging for the most part, its climatic choices and familiar trappings may attenuate its replay value. Hancock's creation, with its formidable cast and solid atmosphere, endeavors to carve a niche within its overtrodden domain but ultimately struggles to emancipate itself from the voluminous shadow of its genre's stalwarts. Hindered further by occasional editing missteps, the film represents a curious case of an intriguing premise that might have fared better had it not arrived in the aftermath of its more illustrious kin.

John Lee Hancock's "The Little Things" finds itself nestled uncomfortably within the shadow of genre-defining thrillers, invoking unavoidable comparisons to the likes of David Fincher's "Se7en." Unexpectedly, this film, with a draft dating back to the early '90s (and once catching the eye of the late Brandon Lee), struggles to carve out its unique identity in a cinematic landscape that has significantly evolved since its conception. Despite boasting a commendable cast and sporadically gripping moments, the narrative treads overmuch familiar territory, resulting in an ending that leaves audiences pondering rather than satisfied. Furthermore, its physical Blu Ray release falls short of expectations for technophiles, lacking a separate 4K rendition and a Dolby Atmos mix entirely absent from its streaming variant, with bonus content described as lacking in depth and breadth.

On the brighter side, "The Little Things" does demonstrate flashes of brilliance, particularly through its dynamic and nuanced performances that keep viewers tethered to its suspenseful undertones. The film navigates through thrilling and eerie sequences with finesse, punctuated by moments of genuine originality and thematic depth that momentarily elevate it above its narrative quagmires. Visually and audibly, the Blu Ray presentation impresses with high-quality video and audio that ensure an immersive experience despite the scant supplementary materials failing to enrich the viewing experience substantially.

Conclusively, while "The Little Things" undeniably showcases moments of inventiveness and boasts strong performances, it ultimately falters in delivering a wholly unique or satisfying conclusion to stand out amidst its contemporaries. The Blu Ray presentation, though visually and audibly appealing, is marred by a notable lack of substantial extras and absence of anticipated features like a separate 4K release or Dolby Atmos audio. For aficionados of the thriller genre and completists, this release might warrant attention, yet prospective buyers should temper their expectations regarding both film content and supplementary materials.