Small Crimes (2017)

A disgraced former cop, fresh off a six-year prison sentence for attempted murder - returns home looking for redemption but winds up trapped in the mess he left behind.

Director:

E.L. Katz (as Evan Katz)

Writers:

E.L. Katz (screenplay by) (as Evan Katz), Macon Blair (screenplay by)

Stars:

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Robert Forster, Jacki Weaver

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau	...	Joe Denton
Robert Forster	...	Joe Denton Sr.
Jacki Weaver	...	Irma Denton
Molly Parker	...	Charlotte Boyd
Gary Cole	...	Dan Pleasant
Macon Blair	...	Scotty Caldwell
Michael Kinney	...	Phil Coakley
Daniela Sandiford	...	Cara Coakley
Shawn Lawrence	...	Manny Vassey
Pat Healy	...	Junior Vassey
Eddie Holland	...	Vassey Kid #1
Jasson Finney	...	Vassey Thug #1
Anatoly Zinoviev	...	Vassey Thug #2
Glen Bowser	...	Abraham
Larry Fessenden	...	Earl

Storyline

SMALL CRIMES is a delightfully suspenseful, blackly comic tale that follows a disgraced former cop, fresh off a six-year prison sentence for attempted murder, who returns home looking for redemption, but winds up trapped in the mess he left behind.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character Scotty Caldwell wears US Marine cammies off base. Marines can't wear camouflage off base. ... But it is Gen. James Conway's ban on the wearing of camouflage uniforms, or "cammies," off base that is getting the most attention, changing not only the appearance of the Marines but also the look of their communities.

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Goofs

When Joe is pouring wine for himself and Charlotte, about half way through the film, he looks in the fridge at some morphine and the fridge door doesn't close properly.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Chaplin: So what do you think, Joe?
Joe Denton: [scoffs] I don't know. I dont think thats for me to say. A second chance? I mean, it's a nice idea, but...
Chaplin: But? How do you feel?
Joe Denton: Feel? I feel that I was a nightmare. I made terrible choices. I drove my family away. I... I hurt people. I didn't mean to, but there it is. And for all that... there's a hole inside me now. It hurts. I carry it.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Goldie Hawn/Nikolaj Coster-Waldau/Brian Reed/Mary J. Blige (2017)

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Soundtracks

Oh Sweet Where Am I
Written and Performed by Kyle McNeill
Courtesy of Kyle McNeill

User Reviews

Some people just can't get things right, no matter how hard they try!

'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.

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 April 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Small Crimes

Filming Locations:

Montreal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rumble Films (II), Rooks Nest Entertainment, FAIRMOUNT FILMS

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1