Chris Hemsworth leads an all-star cast in ‘s release, Crime 101, a new heist thriller aiming for the stylish sophistication of classics like Michael Mann’s Heat. Directed by Bart Layton (American Animals) and adapted from a novella by Don Winslow, the film features Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry and Barry Keoghan alongside Hemsworth, and is already garnering positive early reviews.
The film centers on Mike, a uniquely skilled thief who consistently pulls off high-stakes heists without resorting to violence. Layton’s adaptation, however, isn’t simply a straightforward crime story. It’s a deliberate homage to a lineage of cool, collected cinematic criminals, most notably Steve McQueen’s characters, a connection visually reinforced by Hemsworth’s driving sequences along Los Angeles’s iconic Highway 101, echoing the famed car chase in Bullitt.
But the influences don’t stop there. Critics have noted echoes of Ryan Gosling’s taciturn driver in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, suggesting a broader cinematic conversation about the archetype of the silent, capable professional operating outside the law. Hemsworth’s Mike isn’t portrayed as a hardened criminal, but rather a man nearing the end of his career, seeking a final score before retirement.
The carefully constructed plan is disrupted when a minor car accident – a fender-bender with a woman whose car bumps the back of his – introduces an unexpected element into Mike’s world. This encounter sparks a potential connection, a dynamic complicated by Mike’s guarded nature and unwillingness to reveal anything about himself.
Enter Mark Ruffalo as Lou, a detective investigating the string of diamond and jewelry thefts plaguing the area around Highway 101. Lou is presented as a more morally grounded figure than many of his colleagues, skeptical of the quick conclusions and tidy categorizations favored by the department. He believes a single perpetrator is responsible for the crimes, a theory met with resistance from those eager to close the cases.
Halle Berry adds another layer of complexity as Sharon, a seasoned insurance broker facing age and gender-based discrimination within her firm. Her experience and capabilities are consistently undervalued by her superiors, creating a parallel narrative about systemic obstacles and professional frustration.
The stakes are further raised by the presence of a more brutal rival thief, portrayed by Barry Keoghan. Operating with a reckless disregard for collateral damage, this character embodies a stark contrast to Mike’s calculated approach, tearing through the streets of Los Angeles on a motorcycle as a force of violent chaos.
Crime 101, according to reviews, strives to be more than just a stylish thriller. It aims for a layered exploration of morality, the motivations behind criminal behavior, and the compromises individuals make. Layton attempts to balance these thematic ambitions with the demands of the genre, creating a film that is both visually appealing and intellectually engaging.
However, the film’s ambition may also be its weakness. With a runtime of 135 minutes, the narrative feels somewhat sprawling, juggling numerous characters and subplots. The relationship between Mike and his boss, played by Nick Nolte, for example, remains underdeveloped, leaving key aspects of his backstory unexplored. Similarly, the budding romance between Mike and Monica Barbaro’s character feels somewhat rushed and lacks the depth it deserves.
The film’s strength lies in its character work. Keoghan’s villain is a memorable force of aggression, while Ruffalo’s detective embodies a weary pragmatism. Berry’s Sharon represents a quiet resilience in the face of professional adversity. Hemsworth, meanwhile, delivers a performance that emphasizes Mike’s carefully constructed facade and the underlying complexities of his past.
Crime 101 is a film that borrows liberally from its predecessors, but struggles to fully establish its own distinct identity. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the films it references, it offers a compelling and visually striking thriller with strong performances from its impressive cast. It’s a film that asks questions about the nature of crime and the individuals drawn to it, even if it doesn’t provide definitive answers.
