Small Crimes

I was really surprised to see movie like this done by Netflix, it is noir, it is bare (so You feel what You feel there is no ''correct'' interpretation). Nikolaj gives very realistic performance completely appropriate for story. Reminds of good old European post war dramas somehow.

'SMALL CRIMES': Four Stars (Out of Five)

A dark crime-drama about a former corrupt cop, that's just out of prison for attempted murder (from 6 year earlier), who's desperately trying to leave his former life behind, but can't. The movie stars Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau, Molly Parker, Robert Forster, Jacki Weaver, Gary Cole, Macon Blair, Pat Healy and Michael Kinney. The film was directed by E.L. Katz (who also helmed 2013's outstanding 'CHEAP THRILLS'), and it was written by Katz and Blair (based on the novel, of the same name, by Dave Zeltserman). It was released by Netflix through their streaming site, and it's gotten mixed reviews from critics. I found it to be a pretty impressive, and highly interesting, dark crime movie.

Coaster-Waldau plays Joe Denton, a former corrupt cop that was recently released from prison. Denton did six years for attempting to murder a district attorney, named Phil Coakley (Kinney), under the mob's payroll. He attempts to reunite with his ex-wife, and their children, but learns that they've left town and never want to see him again. Denton instead moves in with his parents (Foster and Weaver), but they're suspicious that he's still a danger to himself, and everyone around him. At the same time he starts a relationship with a nurse (Parker), and he's harassed into committing yet another murder, by a corrupt police lieutenant, and his old partner (Cole).

The movie is really dark, and full of unlikable characters (with just a few exceptions). Coaster-Waldau is likable in the film, I think, but it's clear that he's done some really bad things in his past. I really wanted to root for him, and I did, but the movie is more of a tragedy than anything else actually. It's frustrating to see how some people just can't get things right, no matter how hard they try, and how positive their intentions are. That's the genius of this film, and it does a pretty good job of telling that story.

There are lot of background history spare parts in this film looked more like a sequel to an earlier film but there's actually no such prequel, so we viewers got to connect the dots by ourselves, but still, it gave you the feeling of a nicely directed and well acted film, didn't give you any B movie like lousy taste. Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau used this film to show us he could really act, a total different role from what he played in "Game of Throne", and he was very very good to prove he can be an A list actor.

But even so, this film are missing a lot details that should came from another earlier film.

This film tells the story of a disgraced policeman, who served years in prison for killing another man while he was drunk. After his release from prison, he has to live under the ghost of his past.

I'm not sure why the film is called "Small Crime", as none of the crimes displayed are small. The way people treat each other in the film is horrendous, as they insult, physically and emotionally hurt each other all the time. It's full of negativity, and I don't like the film.

I usually don't pay attention to sub 6* movies, but love Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, so I took a chance with this movie. I'm so glad I did, because this is absolutely great flick. Great actors. great photography. Good story. Very Good directing. This is probably my first or second review ever and only did it because it's completely nonsense that this move has sub 6* rating! i don't understand why! This is above 8* flick!