The Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Thriller On Netflix If You Loved Him In Game Of Thrones

By Steven Nelson | Published

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

In a riveting departure from the halls of Westeros, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau steps into the gritty, real world in Small Crimes, a gripping drama that lays bare the rocky road to redemption. Shifting his armor for a cloak of vulnerability, Coster-Waldau takes audiences on a dark journey of crime and retribution, proving that leaving behind a life of crime is no small feat.

As the film makes its mark on Netflix‘s roster, viewers are invited to witness a story where the boundaries of good and evil blur, raising complex questions about humanity and personal reform.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau stars in Small Crimes streaming on Netflix

In Small Crimes, viewers are ushered into a world steeped in gray morality, where the boundaries between villain and hero blur, creating a haunting depiction of human vulnerability and resilience.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau delivers a riveting performance as Joe Denton, a character marred by his tainted past. With a furrowed brow and a wearied demeanor, Coster-Waldau embodies the strife of a man clinging to the shreds of his once honorable life.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Navigating a landscape tainted by corruption and deceit, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Joe finds himself embroiled in the sinister undertows of a small town that seems to harbor secrets more sordid than his own. The film’s dark and unforgiving atmosphere is a fertile ground for a stellar cast that supports Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s intense portrayal.

Robert Forster exudes a poignant mix of disappointment and hope as Joe’s father, embodying the complex emotions of a parent witnessing the downfall and potential redemption of his son.

Joining Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Small Crimes are Gary Cole, Molly Parker, and Robert Forster

Molly Parker gives depth to Charlotte Boyd, a figure who represents both a beacon of hope and a mirror to Joe’s brokenness, providing a glimpse into the potential for healing and renewal amidst chaos.

Furthermore, Gary Cole’s chilling performance unveils the depth of corruption festering within the town’s law enforcement, a grim testament to the pervasive darkness overshadowing Joe’s path to redemption.

Director E.L. Katz crafts a grim tableau, weaving together a narrative laden with unexpected twists and revelations, constantly testing the moral fiber of its central character.

Through a lens that does not shy away from exposing the ugliest facets of humanity, Small Crimes paints a gritty portrait of a man’s quest for redemption amidst a world reluctant to forgive. As viewers, we are left grappling with the unsettling yet gripping question: In a world steeped in sin and betrayal, is true redemption ever attainable?

Thus, with a riveting performance by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau at its helm, Small Crimes stands as a stark exploration of the labyrinthine path to redemption, offering no easy answers but promising an intense and thought-provoking cinematic journey.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, in Small Crimes, was met with a mixed critical reaction

Small Crimes was met with mixed reviews from critics, where some appreciated its dark and gritty narrative, while others found it a bit too bleak, missing the narrative cohesion to truly stand out in a crowded genre. The film holds a modest rating on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes, with many pointing out its intriguing premise but somewhat lackluster execution.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Starred As Jamie Lannister On Game Of Thrones

In stark contrast to his iconic role as Jaime Lannister in the widely acclaimed television series Game of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s portrayal of Joe Denton offers a far more grounded and perhaps even more nihilistic view of a man grappling with the consequences of his actions.

While Jaime Lannister is a character of grandiose scale, ensconced in a world of knights and dragons, dealing with issues of honor, loyalty, and familial bonds on a monumental scale, Joe Denton operates in a far smaller, but no less complex, universe.

In Game of Thrones, Coster-Waldau skillfully navigated the transformation of Jaime Lannister from a seemingly unrepentant villain to a man seeking redemption and grappling with the weight of his past misdeeds, a character arc praised as one of the series’ most compelling.

The grandeur and epic scale of the series allowed for a nuanced exploration of Jaime’s evolution over several years, offering viewers a multifaceted look at the complexities of morality and redemption.

On the other hand, Joe Denton in Small Crimes is a man confined to the suffocating boundaries of a small town, grappling with a more immediate and personal kind of darkness. Coster-Waldau offers a raw and harrowing depiction of a man haunted by his sins, trying to find redemption in a world that seems to have forsaken him. 

The stripped-down narrative of Small Crimes provides a canvas for a more intimate and perhaps more hopeless exploration of the themes of guilt, redemption, and the cyclical nature of violence.

This role allowed Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to flex his acting muscles in a different direction, proving his versatility as an actor capable of diving into the gritty, uncomfortable realities of a man on the edge, showcasing a level of vulnerability and desperation that is markedly different from the stoic, regal demeanor of Jaime Lannister.

It showcases Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s capability to delve deep into the psychological turmoil of his characters, whether in the grand setting of Westeros or the grim backdrop of a small, corruption-ridden town. Check out Small Crimes streaming on Netflix.