Small Town Crime

Okay, so this movie did employ some of the same cliche' plot themes used in crime drama's, but a good movie non the less. This is a story of an alcoholic ex-police officer who is struggling with life and fighting his inner demons. He comes across a girl, who was left for dead and then becomes obsessed with finding her killer. I can say that it offers no real mystery, everything is pretty much out in the air for the viewer. However, it was a movie that kept my attention and I wanted to keep watching it. The acting was pretty good as well. It wasn't an on the edge thriller and at times ran a slow pace, but it does pick up. It also left me with some small unanswered questions because it never completely explains his story or what happened to him. Other than that, the movie is definitely a good movie to watch if this is your genre of movies. You won't be bored or regret watching it.

Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) is a drunk. He lost his police job after a drunken shootout with a criminal. He finds a woman left for dead on the side of the road. He brings her to the hospital but she passes away soon after. He kept her phone and gets a call from a crass man who he believes to be her pimp. He decides to investigate her case on his own.

This is an indie crime drama with some very impressive character actors. I don't know if it's the presence of Robert Forster but I get an Elmore Leonard vibe. Granted, it's not quite the same. Hawkes is a great character actor and his elevation into the lead is very commendable. He is a compelling actor with real empathy. I like his character's redemptive story arc. That's why the money is unwanted. Getting paid diminishes his selfless act. The two henchmen are great. The movie is filled with great character actors. There is pulpy goodness here.

Let's be honnest : I almost stopped watching this movie after ten minutes because I felt it was a kind of parody, quite funny but it was not at all what I was expecting. Luckily, I kept on warching, and the more the plot went on, the more I was hooked. The plot is intelligent, well built, the characters are strongly defined and the acting is perfect. Add to that a very elegant staging, a beautiful photography, and you have a pretty good... what ? Action movie ? Film noir ? Modern western ? Well, actually the movie borrows from all these genres while succeeding to exist as a work in its own right. It is both funny and dark, light and serious, touching and violent. For all those reasons I really loved this movie. Of course this not a masterpiece, but it is not either a "forget after watching" movie like there are a lot right now. PS : sorry for my English, I am French and I have not written in English for a long time

While not as funny, nor quite as good, "Small Town Crime" has pace and a storyline that roll down the road like a muscle car.

Hawkes' lead is nicely fleshed-out, and transformative. All the characters that surround him are adequately performed, well-cast, and fit their small places within this quirky crime thriller.

It's a little more comedy and a good soundtrack away from an 8-9, and may still find it's way onto the back-end of a top-25 for the year of its' release; at least for me.

I sat down last evening looking for one of those rare Netflix gems, and rolled the dice. This one paid.

You'll like this if you liked: Tree's Lounge(even or a touch below)), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang(a touch better), The Lookout(a touch better),Red Rock West(a touch better), or Stuber(not as good).

Never heard of it. Came across it on Netflix. This is one of the best pulp fiction crime movies I have seen in a long time. It's both gritty and funny in parts. The characters are awesome and the story and pacing just roll.

Definitely recommend.