★★★½☆

Directed and written by Bart Layton, Crime 101 is a satisfying slow burn crime thriller in the modern era, based off of the novella of the same name by Don Winslow. There’s a sense of nostalgia to this film, playing tribute to the heist films back in the 90s, and that could be due to Layton’s direct influence from the era of Steven McQueen. Speaking to Esquire, he says “Obviously, who doesn’t love those movies? They were grown-up, intelligent, Saturday-night popcorn movies, and I definitely felt like, “Wouldn’t it be great to bring something of that back?”” Which is exactly what this film feels like. 

The film follows Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) a somewhat ethical thief, whose strict tendencies (of his own accord) to steal jewels along the 101 freeway have left the police, and in particular, Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) in complete shambles. Lou is relentless and utterly determined to find the jewel thief, even at the cost of jeopardising his own career. But as the life of crime seems to mentally wear Mike down, he comes by a heist he can’t refuse, crossing paths with an insurance broker named Sharon Colvin (Halle Berry) who may just be the ticket to him succeeding at what he hopes to be his final job.

Crime 101 is the type of quiet thriller that boils under the surface; a gripping cat and mouse type game between an anxious thief and a dishevelled detective, amongst other unpredictable players who only add to the mayhem. It perfectly hits all the beats of a crime heist inclusive of showing off high end cars in high speed chases, because it truly wouldn’t be a heist film without it. The movie also alludes to the corrupt system in both society and the government, speaking to the increasing levels of homelessness across Los Angeles and the corruption in the police force, of which seem to be brushed under the rug, reminiscent of how instances like this tend to happen in real life.

Los Angeles is also the perfect backdrop for this film. It’s a city full of dreamers and lovers, but most of all it’s familiar. Not only to those who live in the area, but movie lovers alike, where Los Angeles has been the stage for all the love letters to Hollywood, so it’s no wonder why there feels like a sense of nostalgia when watching the movie.

Amongst the chaos, Barry Keoghan plays Ormon, a rival thief sent out by Mike’s boss to take over his line of work after he senses Mike losing touch. He’s everything Mike isn’t; aggressively violent, careless, and abrasive. Yet there’s a sense of fear that takes over whenever he comes face to face with his violent crimes that Keoghan plays with unbridled genuinity. 

In a bit of a smaller role, Monica Barbaro plays a publicist named Maya, who first meets Mike when she accidentally crashes into his car in the middle of the night. Their sweet and awkward exchange leads to Mike asking Maya out for dinner, where they eventually become romantically linked. While Barbaro was only in the film for a little while, her short appearance was endearing and you could feel her charm flow from the screen. 

Aside from the brilliant performances from Keoghan and Barbaro, Hemsworth, Ruffalo, and Berry were also exceptional. It seems like Hemsworth has finally been given a role that is able to showcase his talents as more than a brawly superhero. Mike’s aspirations to live a life without crime seem to haunt every waking moment, and Hemsworth perfectly plays into the quiet and stoic nature of his character with such ease that you can’t help but feel sad for him. 

Ruffalo’s portrayal of an unruly and irritable cop who just won’t quit is brilliant, he is a talent of that generation that can’t be stopped. And while I wished there was more to Berry’s character other than the almost stereotypical trope of “a woman in the corporate world finally standing up for herself”, it was nice to see her play an incredibly smart and witty character, complimenting perfectly with Ruffalo’s character.

There are moments that feel a little cheesy, like opening and closing the movie on the 101 highway, and the pin drop of the thief being called the 101 robber (which honestly earned a few moans and groans from people around me in the cinema). But regardless it’s a great modern heist film that is genuinely a brilliant homage to those back in the 90s. Layton just understands the genre and was able to deliver a movie full of great performances from the entire cast that was just a blast to watch.