Small Town Crime

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.

Looking for your annual rural crime/drama/black comedy/character study fix? Well, Three Billboards, which I reviewed the other day, provides that with something more illusory and profound. If you're after one that's a bit more old school and straightforward, check out the Nelms Brother's Small Town Crime, a brutal, breezy thriller starring John Hawkes, an actor I remember from the fringes of the 90's who seems to have gone newly platinum these days thanks to an Oscar nomination for 2010's Winter's Bone. He's hilariously sympathetic here as a raging alcoholic ex-cop who stumbles right into the middle of a murder ring with the crosshairs latched onto a group of local underage prostitutes. Never one to back down once he gets a few cold ones in him before noon, he's on the case between sessions at the dive bar and inebriated joyrides in his souped up muscle car. There's a slightly off kilter, surreal quality to his story and that of those around him, a coming and going sense that these are a cartoonish series of events that aren't really happening, when one looks at the supporting characters. Robert Forster has never been more deadpan or watchable as the tycoon grandfather of one of the slain hookers, a hands-on gent who isn't afraid to dust off his giant scoped rifle to help out. He's joined by outlandish Latino pimp Mood (Clifton Collins Jr., who needs way more roles), both of them assisting Hawkes in his crusade. Even the psychotic hitman (Jeremy Ratchford) dispatched to kill everyone in sight has a distinctly 'out there', roadrunner vibe. But Hawkes anchors the whole deal with the mopey, sad-sack realism of his character, a loser who's dead-end existence has been given a new lease on legacy. His best buddy Anthony Anderson and wife Octavia Spencer give the plot some gravity too, a neat seesaw effect that sits opposite Forster and Collins exaggerated antics. The film has a funny way of both ambling along at it's own pace and jumping out at you with warp speed jump cuts and brazen, bloody violence. The dialogue is pure poetry in areas and knowing camp in others, neatly balanced. Don Harvey and veteran tough gal Dale Dickey have great bits as salty bartenders, while Daniel Sunjata and haggard looking ex-pretty boy (remember him in Monster In Law with Jane Fonda and J-Lo?) Michael Vartan play two local detectives who are always frustrated to be a step behind Hawkes, who plays off the grid and close to the chest. Small Town Crime is a small time film, but the craft gone into bringing it to our screens couldn't be bigger or more commendable from all angles. Highly recommended.

I was on the fence about whether or not to see 'Fatman' (I can't stand Christmas movies unless they are very dark and well done) so I decided to check out the filmmaker's previous film from 2017 'Small Town Crime'. I was immediately impressed. Almost from the word go I knew this was my kind of film. There was a dark humour about the film, but it also took itself seriously enough that it felt like anything could happen and nothing was off the cards. The balance between humour and drama in this film was nearly perfect.

The main character in this story is one of those rare breeds, where you know they are vile and the scum of the earth, but you are also on their side and rooting for them because they manage to be likeable despite it. Credit goes to John Hawkes for his fine work here. Robert Forster in this film is such a nice a touch. He has such a natural charisma on screen. His performances will be sorely missed. Anthony Anderson and Octavia Spencer are also in this film. They were some casting choices I think the movie could have done without. I don't think they had enough of a part to play in the movie to justify their star-power. I feel like lesser-known actors could have filled those roles and it may have even added to the film.

The villains in this film were well done as well. Nothing over the top or scene-stealing, however they had more than enough screen-presence and menace to be a big positive for the film. Some of the dialogue in the film was exceptionally well done. There is one scene where a character speaks about the difference between a hawk and an eagle which I particularly enjoyed. There was a lot to like about 'Small Town Crime' and if it slipped past your radar like it did mine then I would highly recommend going back to check it out.

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).

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.