Skimming the previous reviews, it appears a lot of folks aren't 'getting' what noir stories are all about. If you love 'Double Indemnity' or 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', then you should enjoy 'Small Crimes'. If you want your stories straightforward with resolutions that leave you feeling that 'all's right with the world' then this isn't your bag, man; or perhaps not 'your cup of tea', mate.
As for execution of the film itself, the director's worked very much in the classic noir style, but with a modern interpretation. There is no rambling around with the story, all the dialogue and early scenes set up the increasingly rapid spiral of destruction. That's what 'noir' is all about, so if you don't get that, you've not seen or read the works that make up this genre...or you just don't like noir.
I'd liken it, in a way, to 'Memento', which I loved the first time I saw it, and freely admit I didn't understand a lot of it until the end...and which point all I wanted to do was watch it again to see what I know I'd missed the first time. Small Crimes is that sort of movie, you'll want to watch it again and pick up all the subtle cues you missed the first time around. I found the very end to be perfect, and so subtle you might miss the implications. This isn't some green-screen flick to watch when you're brain dead. It's weird, wild, terrifying, the characters are real people you care about...even the 'bad' guys.
I said there are spoilers because I don't want to take the chance someone might think there's one in here. Other reviewers have made the story line fairly clear, so there's no need for me to do that yet again.
As for execution of the film itself, the director's worked very much in the classic noir style, but with a modern interpretation. There is no rambling around with the story, all the dialogue and early scenes set up the increasingly rapid spiral of destruction. That's what 'noir' is all about, so if you don't get that, you've not seen or read the works that make up this genre...or you just don't like noir.
I'd liken it, in a way, to 'Memento', which I loved the first time I saw it, and freely admit I didn't understand a lot of it until the end...and which point all I wanted to do was watch it again to see what I know I'd missed the first time. Small Crimes is that sort of movie, you'll want to watch it again and pick up all the subtle cues you missed the first time around. I found the very end to be perfect, and so subtle you might miss the implications. This isn't some green-screen flick to watch when you're brain dead. It's weird, wild, terrifying, the characters are real people you care about...even the 'bad' guys.
I said there are spoilers because I don't want to take the chance someone might think there's one in here. Other reviewers have made the story line fairly clear, so there's no need for me to do that yet again.