City of Tiny Lights (15)

Crime, Drama, Thriller

In the teeming, multicultural metropolis of modern-day London, a seemingly straightforward missing-person case launches a down-at-heel private eye into a dangerous world of religious fanaticism and political intrigue.

The critical consensus

Pete Travis's thin, derivative noir wastes the talents of Riz Ahmed and Billie Piper.

(*) (*) (*) Allan Hunter, The List, 03/04/2017

A rich, rewarding crime film, shot with real skill. Riz Ahmed confirms his status as one of the most exciting Brit actors of his generation.

(*) James Mottram, Total Film, 03/04/2017

Charmless and saddled with disastrous flashbacks, this doesn’t have the street smarts to play its strongest hand. There’s a great film in here struggling to get out, but the definitive London noir still remains unmade.

(*) (*) (*) Andrew Lowry, Empire Online, 03/04/2017

In the end, City Of Tiny Lights loses its focus.

(*) (*) (*) Geoffrey Macnab, The Independent, 05/04/2017

What a waste.

(*) (*) (*) Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 06/04/2017

Pete Travis’ London looks and feels right but the story is disappointingly familiar.

(*) (*) Katherine McLaughlin, Little White Lies, 06/04/2017

This London-set crime drama looks to classic noir cinema for its cues, but gets overwhelmed by its own sense of style.

(*) (*) (*) Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian, 07/04/2017

The star is excellent as detective Tommy Akhtar, although the film doesn’t hang together quite as well as it should.

(*) (*) Simran Hans, The Observer, 09/04/2017