Wow what a different JIM CARREY we have here!!! & he was Excellent in this very dark crime Thriller, i think Carrey is great at Drama & this movie really shows how good an actor he really is, feels like we're FINALLY getting to see the REAL jim carrey,the Jim Carrey he always wanted to show on screen!!!
I grew up watching Carrey like EVERYONE did as the rubber face crazy comic genius but there is NO trace of that Carrey here at all!!!
Here is a powerful performance by the "New" Jim Carrey & i loved it.
Dark Crimes itself is a very dark & dreary Crime Thriller & I'm not going into the story because this should be watched not knowing really anything about it except it's a dark crime Thriller & that's how i watched it, i didn't read or watch a single review i just heard about Jim Carrey doing this very serious crime Thriller & waited to buy it on dvd.
So yeah this is a very good Thriller with a very moody atmosphere & very dreary & dark with a serious & excellent JIM CARREY who gives a fantastic performance with an accent!!! Just watch it & get hooked into the story like i did & I'm so looking forward to more darker serious roles by Carrey hopefully in the future?
JIM CARREY has successfully transitioned from Comic legend to a great serious Actor
172 Reviews
not compelling
ferguson-618 May 2018
Greetings again from the darkness. A neo-noir "inspired by actual events" and based on a compelling 2008 "New Yorker" article by the great David Grann (THE LOST CITY OF Z) seems to have the necessary components for a satisfying thriller. So what went wrong? Unfortunately, a messy script from Jeremy Brock (THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND) prevents this one from ever having a chance at grabbing our attention, much less holding it.
This is the first English language film from director Alexandros Avranas (MISS VIOLENCE, 2013) and his cast is led by Jim Carrey as police inspector Tadek, a disgraced cop who takes care of his elderly mother while also obsessing over the now coldcase that ruined his career. Carrey sports a Polish accent through "most" of his performance ... a performance that is mostly subdued, especially given his career. Joining him as co-leads in the cast are two other excellent actors: Martin Csokas and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Csokas plays Kozlow, the main antagonist and suspect - an author with clues to the key murder highlighted in his novel. Ms. Gainsbourg is underutilized as Kasia, the former sex worker, now intimate acquaintance of Kozlow. She is the key to solving the case.
Grann's article entitled "True Crimes: A Postmodern Murder Mystery" told the story of novelist/convicted murderer Krystian Bala. It's an article worth reading and one that bears only passing resemblance to this screen adaptation. The film is purposefully drab, bleak, dark, grey and dour, with a stark, cold look to the characters and most every scene. Tadek is a man on a mission to save his reputation, even at the expense of his family life, or really any life at all. The game of cat and mouse between Tadek and Kozlow never reaches the level of tension that the film seems to think it does ... even in the one-on-one interrogation scene or the seemingly endless blabbering of the recordings Tadek listens to.
There is a terrific international cast of supporting actors including Vlad Ivanov, Robert Wieckiewicz, Piotr Glowacki and Agata Kulesza, but the cast is only able to do so much with the material. Perhaps the draw is supposed to be Jim Carrey is the darkest role of his career. On the bright side, the story is neatly wrapped up at the end thanks to one character who deserves a "win".
This is the first English language film from director Alexandros Avranas (MISS VIOLENCE, 2013) and his cast is led by Jim Carrey as police inspector Tadek, a disgraced cop who takes care of his elderly mother while also obsessing over the now coldcase that ruined his career. Carrey sports a Polish accent through "most" of his performance ... a performance that is mostly subdued, especially given his career. Joining him as co-leads in the cast are two other excellent actors: Martin Csokas and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Csokas plays Kozlow, the main antagonist and suspect - an author with clues to the key murder highlighted in his novel. Ms. Gainsbourg is underutilized as Kasia, the former sex worker, now intimate acquaintance of Kozlow. She is the key to solving the case.
Grann's article entitled "True Crimes: A Postmodern Murder Mystery" told the story of novelist/convicted murderer Krystian Bala. It's an article worth reading and one that bears only passing resemblance to this screen adaptation. The film is purposefully drab, bleak, dark, grey and dour, with a stark, cold look to the characters and most every scene. Tadek is a man on a mission to save his reputation, even at the expense of his family life, or really any life at all. The game of cat and mouse between Tadek and Kozlow never reaches the level of tension that the film seems to think it does ... even in the one-on-one interrogation scene or the seemingly endless blabbering of the recordings Tadek listens to.
There is a terrific international cast of supporting actors including Vlad Ivanov, Robert Wieckiewicz, Piotr Glowacki and Agata Kulesza, but the cast is only able to do so much with the material. Perhaps the draw is supposed to be Jim Carrey is the darkest role of his career. On the bright side, the story is neatly wrapped up at the end thanks to one character who deserves a "win".
I wanted to like this movie ....
NpMoviez3 June 2018
I would've never known about this if it wasn't for RT, and I would've been fine. But at the same time, I don't think it is as terrible as the critics and a lot of people claim it to be - but isn't good either. It is not original or unique. Also, it is not a typical Hollywood cop drama with shootouts and explosions, in fact, it is not a cop drama. It is a psychological crime thriller. That's the best way in which I can describe it. It is dark and filthy. It has a considerable amount of violent "intimate" scenes and some graphic scenes quite similar to that. So, if you find those grose - don't check it out. Speaking of the story, it has one of the most generic "previously prestigious cop due to some recent past events is now living a miserable life with a broken family and wants his prestige back" character played by Jim Carrey. And, a lot of it feels like an adaptation of "Basic Instinct" (1992) rather than some real events it claims to be - with some minor alterations. There is an author who writes erotic stories and is suspected to be the one behind it - but just not what it turns out to be in "Basic Instinct". The scenes, psychological manipulations, etc seem so similar to it - with different interpretations. Whatever they did with Carrey's character is simply the obvious cliché of what happens to a generic character like this in a dark world set up by the movie. The first reveal was predictable - after you know what's going on. And, it was the most obvious thing again. Doesn't make the movie worse, but at the same doesn't make it better. The second reveal was something I didn't really see coming in the way it did. But it feels really too much of a lazy writing and over the top. And, the way Carrey deduces things in the way he does while investigating is also something we've seen a number of different times. I didn't hate the pacing and the way it was going - I thought it was fine. Jim Carrey gives a very nice performance on his part. I loved him in this movie. I have seen his "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "The Mask" and absolutely loved them. And besides these, I might have seen Ace Ventura movies and probably "Bruce Almighty". I don't recall watching him in a role like this and giving a performance like this. But again, I have watched only few of his movies. So, I don't know if he has done a similar role and given a more powerful performance. Sadly, on the whole I found it frustrating. I really wanted to like this movie, but I couldn't.
Score : 4/10
Grade : D+
Label : Okay, okay .... f**k! Nothing there
Score : 4/10
Grade : D+
Label : Okay, okay .... f**k! Nothing there
Better to read the magazine story than watch the film.
chris-h-314 June 2018
This film had a nice feel to it and was nicely shot. However the story came across as disjointed and didn't make a lot of sense. It was interesting to see Jim Carey in such a bleak role however to me it came across as a very staged performance - And I'm not sure if the accent was a good idea as toward the end of the film it tended to go from Polish, to Northern Irish to American all in one scene.
I remember reading the article this film claims to tell the story of and went back and re-read it on the New Yorker website today. Its an interesting story which this film strays from dramatically, inventing in the whole 'sex club' sub-plot and completely changing the ending. Can't help but feel that in this case, the truth is much more entertaining than the fiction.
As said I enjoyed the direction, locations and cinematography but the rest of the film was a chore.
I remember reading the article this film claims to tell the story of and went back and re-read it on the New Yorker website today. Its an interesting story which this film strays from dramatically, inventing in the whole 'sex club' sub-plot and completely changing the ending. Can't help but feel that in this case, the truth is much more entertaining than the fiction.
As said I enjoyed the direction, locations and cinematography but the rest of the film was a chore.
Boring. . .Acting Subpar
skymoose-0886723 May 2018
While this movie had a lot of potential, Carrey's portrayal of Tadek was incredibly lacking. He seemed disconnected from the role and his acting fell short. While some might enjoy the movie, I found it incredibly boring an painful to watch.
Boring
sched-4690525 April 2018
Waste of time
Rachn3430 April 2018
This movie is a complete waste time.i was hopeful to see Jim Carey in a serious role. He is a great actor. The storyline could have been good. The music never helped out. Very monotone throughout the movie. Almost fell asleep at times. Was not even with on-demand fee.
Two years later the ratings drop down
john-demetriou-jd3 June 2018
This movie was initiallly released in Europe. In 2016. Up until then the ratings had it at 7.6
Then it gets re-released to US and worldwide as Dark Crimes. Then the ratings and reviews drop it down to under 5.
So you understand the differences of opinion here.
I liked the movie. It is slow paced yes, but it does not drag too long. I enjoyed the filmography and the direction of scene (it actually reminded me of Mr Robot) with a slight twist at the end.
All the shot/reverse-shot scenes between Jim Carrey and Marton Csokas were amazing. And Jim Carrey playing the cold detective is also very good.
I recommend it, unfortunately, others do not becuase it's not an American cop drama with lots of shooting explosions etc. If you expect that, do not see the film
Slow and boring
veinctor19 May 2018
Wow I actually forgot the movie and I saw it like 3 days ago.
All I remember was that is slow, it gets nowhere, has a low budget B-movie feel. Nothing good happens and it's all gloomy in a boring way.
It was like a crime drama where a detective goes in places and looks around slowly. Some murders took place but I didnt care about anyone in the film. I thought that it had to be a dream, or that everything was in the protagonists head or something. Nothing smart happens. Unless you count the protagonist's incompetence to do anything right.
Bad movie. I liked seeing Jim Carrey in aserious film for once but it was a bad one.
All I remember was that is slow, it gets nowhere, has a low budget B-movie feel. Nothing good happens and it's all gloomy in a boring way.
It was like a crime drama where a detective goes in places and looks around slowly. Some murders took place but I didnt care about anyone in the film. I thought that it had to be a dream, or that everything was in the protagonists head or something. Nothing smart happens. Unless you count the protagonist's incompetence to do anything right.
Bad movie. I liked seeing Jim Carrey in aserious film for once but it was a bad one.
Sad but true
foxyking9316 May 2018
A film that in a blunt and true way shows what the real world is. It's sad but true. The world is not Wonder Woman, the world is brutal, if you are weak then you lose. It annoys me that all reviews of the film criticize the violence against women and the bluntness shown. Why? This story had to be shown just like that. The film is based on facts and these facts were brutal. Why are all reviewers so politically correct today? It limits directors! Hypocrisy is shocking because the same reviewers do not mind violence against men or bad exploitation of men but are obsessed with women. Stop. Stop to see everything through the prism of political correctness.
Very Slow, but Good
itsbobr1 August 2018
Disgraced Polish Officer Tadek (Jim Carrey) wants to investigate the murder of a slain policeman to prove himself as he had botched a previous investigation. He is so obsessed with this case that he ignores his family. He finds similarities between the murder and details found in author Krystov Kozlov's (Marton Csokas) novel because the details of the actual murder were never released to the public, but Tadek sees them in the novel. He believes he has his man.
This will be very slow going. In the beginning, we see a lot of nudity when scenes are shown in the sex club that Koslov goes to from time to time. After those scenes we no longer see any frontal nudity. . Talking about a sex club where girls were also tortured would have sufficed, but the Director wanted more. See?
There are very few dialogues throughout especially from Tadek. As Tadek, Carrey uses a Polish accent, but I have heard better as he does it with almost no accent. Not good. And Carrey as Tedak sports a beard that makes him almost unrecognizable. I did wish that Carrey as TAdek spoke more about the case so we knew what he was thinking. Didn't happen too often.
The two main characters alongside Carrey are excellent. There is Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kasia, who is Kozlov's girlfriend; and then there is Marton Csokas as Koslov and he gives off a such commanding presence, I kind of wished he was the good guy.
I have always said that comedians have timing down perfectly when they go into drama. Jim Carrey has that in here. Kudos.
There will be 2-twists later on. The first one almost surprised me, but the last one caught me completely by surprise. Will it surprise you? (7/10)
Violence: No. Sex: Yes. Nudity: Yes. Humor: No. Language: Yes. Rating: B
This will be very slow going. In the beginning, we see a lot of nudity when scenes are shown in the sex club that Koslov goes to from time to time. After those scenes we no longer see any frontal nudity. . Talking about a sex club where girls were also tortured would have sufficed, but the Director wanted more. See?
There are very few dialogues throughout especially from Tadek. As Tadek, Carrey uses a Polish accent, but I have heard better as he does it with almost no accent. Not good. And Carrey as Tedak sports a beard that makes him almost unrecognizable. I did wish that Carrey as TAdek spoke more about the case so we knew what he was thinking. Didn't happen too often.
The two main characters alongside Carrey are excellent. There is Charlotte Gainsbourg as Kasia, who is Kozlov's girlfriend; and then there is Marton Csokas as Koslov and he gives off a such commanding presence, I kind of wished he was the good guy.
I have always said that comedians have timing down perfectly when they go into drama. Jim Carrey has that in here. Kudos.
There will be 2-twists later on. The first one almost surprised me, but the last one caught me completely by surprise. Will it surprise you? (7/10)
Violence: No. Sex: Yes. Nudity: Yes. Humor: No. Language: Yes. Rating: B
T. E. R. R. I. B. L. E.
hottest_a91115 May 2018
I mean wow ! The most disturbing movie this year, not because of the violent/ sexual tortute the "Rated R" suggested but the movie itself is terrible, boring, zero stories, acting was terrible, production wise umm okay.. but everyhing else just literally fell Flat
I gotta hand it to them, filmed in 2015, should've stayed hidden all those years , VERY disappointing
With a good backstory, this could've been something
I gotta hand it to them, filmed in 2015, should've stayed hidden all those years , VERY disappointing
With a good backstory, this could've been something
Worth viewing for Carrey's performance.
amesmonde9 August 2018
A hard-boiled detective becomes suspicious of an author whose novel resembles the inner-workings of an unsolved murder.
Director Alexandros Avranas' Dark Crimes is wonderfully framed and is tour de force in lighting and creating a moody atmosphere. Reminiscent of 2016's The Snowman, while well written Jeremy Brock's solemn screenplay is non-eventful. However there are some solid performances, Marton Csokas is on fine form, Carrey is outstanding in this serious brooding role as an investigator who wants to solve a case that he was taken off.
The twist whodunit at the end comes as no surprise, never the less, worth viewing for Carrey's performance alone.
Director Alexandros Avranas' Dark Crimes is wonderfully framed and is tour de force in lighting and creating a moody atmosphere. Reminiscent of 2016's The Snowman, while well written Jeremy Brock's solemn screenplay is non-eventful. However there are some solid performances, Marton Csokas is on fine form, Carrey is outstanding in this serious brooding role as an investigator who wants to solve a case that he was taken off.
The twist whodunit at the end comes as no surprise, never the less, worth viewing for Carrey's performance alone.
shame about all the fake 10* reviews
jason_leo22 May 2018
The film was boring and never really got beyond that. i wish i could get the time back but i cant. what a shame newbies still get away with scoring 10 for the first film they review when everyone else is scoring it very low. it should be about a 3 at best.
Torturous when not sleep inducing
daddyshouse8820 April 2018
With Jim Carrey starring, I was hoping for a showcase of his talents, in however dark a story. I thoroughly enjoyed Robin Williams' turns in "Insomnia" and "One Hour Photo" so...
Halfway through I decided that the dark crime was giving nothing to say to dynamic loquacious actor Jim Carrey.
Wow...Just Terrible
leeandrewbray-5424329 May 2018
Wow...Just terrible. What a waste of time. First of all, why does Jim Carrey take these kinds of roles? "The Number 23" was a crappy somewhat of a porno Jim Carrey film but it was far better than this crappy somewhat of a porno snuff-ish style film. Save your time. Bypass this one. Basically Jim Carrey is a dwindling detective in a foreign country who is trying to solve a cold case about some no name guy who got killed in some underground sex club. His prime suspect is a novelist and the Chief of Police is corrupt but really has no role in the movie other than just being there.
like grass growing over drying paint.
cableaddict12 May 2018
This is easily the worst movie I've seen this year.
Some lame BDSM titillation (if you can even call it that) tries in vain to keep the viewer interested, but that few seconds here & there of barely R-rated lameness cannot overcome the insanely slow pacing, the dialogue, the overall dark mood, the complete lack of any effort at all by the screenwriter and the actors.
You
Have
Been
Warned.
And Jim Carrey, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Some lame BDSM titillation (if you can even call it that) tries in vain to keep the viewer interested, but that few seconds here & there of barely R-rated lameness cannot overcome the insanely slow pacing, the dialogue, the overall dark mood, the complete lack of any effort at all by the screenwriter and the actors.
You
Have
Been
Warned.
And Jim Carrey, you should be ashamed of yourself.
An Unsettling, Slow Burn Whodunit
jjenk9118 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The ending absolutely made sense. The killing of Sadowski was perpetrated by Kasia and Greger, by and large, covered it up. Tadek was manipulated into arresting the wrong man and, therefore, the truth cost him his life: Kasia told the true story of Sadowski's murder to a dead man too obsessed and blinded by emotion.
Good ending, lacking elsewhere...
Calicodreamin24 October 2019
The overall plot was pretty good, but the execution was poor. The movie tried too hard to be edgy. There was very little dialogue, no music, and relied heavily on interpretation to get the storyline across. The acting was good but the characters had no substance. the cinematography fit the concept, but there was no flow to the storyline. The ending was good and definitely gave me a shock.
Enjoyed this movie and the subtle way it presented a dark story.
Robsdeskwv12 May 2018
Watching this film I first off have to say I loved the way Jim Carrey immersed himself into his role. Some people only like him when he is playing humorous roles, but I feel that his serious rolls such as this one (and others like The Number 23) are well portrayed by him. I felt that the film had a well developed corruption murder crime story line to it. I was able to foreshadow the ending a little, but it still was a good film that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The portrayal of Tadek, by Carrey was well developed and showed human character flaws that were subtle but well intertwined into the story. I love the way that David Grann, (the writer of the original story the movie is based on) ended the story with a marginal twist like adding a twist of lime to a cocktail after you have already drank half the glass and ate the olive. This film is not for everyone, but I do recommend giving it a watch, if for nothing else other than seeing Carrey explore a roll away from humor again.
Much better than many reviews say
robertasmith23 May 2023
A good slow burner that is very dark. Martin Csokas is brooding and superb, Jim Carrey is a revelation and Charlotte Gainsbourg gives one of her best performances. It's hard to understand why so many reviewers rate it so low. I once saw a Gene Kelly film in which he played a dark character that was untypical of his usual performances and it was rated badly by critics. I can only assume that the low rate reviewers felt uncomfortable with Carrey being so far away from his usual comedic character, that they struggled with the dark and often very nasty content. However this is a film worth persevering with although I doubt it will do much for Polish tourism or trust in their law enforcement agencies. In saying that, the film could have been set in almost any country and still carry the same impact. Full marks to the Polish film industry for making it.
Has things to admire in it
lucasmossman75010 July 2020
The performances and the cinematography are good and it is a well directed film. The main problem is the story. Nothing makes sense or adds up to anything, you don't necessarily care about any of the characters, and the editing is pretty awkward. Everything should've been given more context, and it should've been longer instead of just 90 min.
It's a difficult watch
corrado-prizzi21 May 2018
The story is first class, but Jimmy might've bitten off more than he could chew here.
He gets his pants acted off him by the rest of the top cast, especially Charlotte Gainsbourg. His accent's wandering all over the place and he seems nervous.
The guy is one of my favorite actors ever, but this genre's maybe a step too far.
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