An elusive thief, eyeing his final score, encounters a disillusioned insurance broker at her own crossroads. As their paths intertwine, a relentless detective trails them, hoping to thwart the multi-million dollar heist they are planning.
From the very first frame, Bart Layton’s “Crime 101” immerses us in the moody atmosphere of urban Los Angeles. After that, what unfolds is a neo-noir crime thriller that can easily be compared to Michael Mann’s LA-based classics like “Heat” and “Collateral.”
The film, based on the novella of the same name by Don Winslow, spends most of its time following the three main leads and enriching their stories as their paths continually cross. The audience isn’t left tapping their feet until the next well-constructed action sequence; the outstanding performances and inspired editing by Jacob Secher Schulsinger give even the slower moments a sense of liveliness.
Chris Hemsworth anchors the story as Mike, a thief whose restraint against using violence and tendency to stay along the 101 freeway becomes a pattern that catches the eye of Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo). Hemsworth portrays a deeply vulnerable man, carrying the weight of his rough upbringing on his shoulders at every moment. He seeks freedom from his life of crime, but we get the sense he wouldn’t really know what to do with himself once his days of high-stakes crime are over. Ruffalo is endearing and relatable as Lubesnick, even though I found his character — a newly divorced detective with a theory no one at the department will believe — slightly clichéd.
Halle Berry stars as Sharon Colvin, an insurance broker who has been overlooked countless times for a promotion, whose motivations for financial security and freedom mirror Mike’s. Scenes are punctuated by audio snippets from Sharon’s meditative sleep app, which serve as an entertaining recurring gag.
Barry Keoghan plays rival thief Ormon, who adds an explosive element of chaos that clashes brilliantly with Hemsworth’s measured, restrained “just-one-more-job-and-I’m-done” professional. Keoghan delivers both laughs and terror as the violent and morally bankrupt thief trying to make a name for himself.
Director Layton understands the economy behind a great heist movie: we need to spend time with characters so they feel three-dimensional, so that when the next chase or action sequence pops up, we care about those involved, and it breaks up the tension with several entertaining, deeply human moments. “Crime 101” is full of great action scenes (including one of the best car chases I’ve seen in years), tense thrills, and great laughs.
While there are clichés and weaknesses in the script, the film’s flaws don’t drown its strengths. There aren’t many mainstream, big-budget heist movies that tackle misogyny and ageism as explicitly as Crime 101 does.
There is enough for everyone to love about this movie, though it falls just short of the heights of influences like “Collateral.” There is enough substance and suspense here for thriller fans. This movie is pure entertainment that you don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying.
In Theaters Friday, February 13th
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