“Small Town Crime” (*** out of four) was an arresting melodrama about an alcoholic ex-cop (John Hawkes) who finds the body of a dead young woman and attempts to redeem himself by finding her killer but finds the path to the truth is a lot darker and more demented than he realized. Hawkes is outstanding and once again shows his flair for playing sleazy yet moral characters. Fine supporting cast including Octavia Spencer as his neighbor and Robert Forster as a mysterious family member who hires him enhance a very sharp (and often funny) script by Eshon and Ian Nelms who also directed. A small winner all around.