All-star cast and gripping plot makes ‘Crime 101’ an unexpected delight
Crime 101 is a stylish, sharply written crime thriller with an all-star cast and a gripping plot that pays tribute to many of the classics in this genre that have come before. Most closely resembling 1995s Heat, this film offers a fresh take on the familiar ‘detective hunting a master thief’ storyline by choosing to prioritise surprisingly layered characterisation over loud car chases and bombastic shootouts. While it may not be a complete reinvention of the wheel, Crime 101 is an excellent exercise in slow-build tension and edge-of-your-seat storytelling that feels like a rare exception to the ‘they don’t make em like they used to’ argument. With committed performances all around, gorgeous visuals and an endlessly entertaining plot, Crime 101 is an unexpected delight of a film.
The story follows Mike Davis, an elusive thief who targets high-value couriers transporting diamonds and other priceless cargo. Mike follows a very strict code: he never harms his targets and he takes every precaution to never leave behind the slightest trace of DNA. His system is expertly co-ordinated and incredibly disciplined. As Mike begins to plan his final heist before leaving this life of crime behind, he encounters Sharon, a disillusioned insurance broker who has lost faith in her industry and the clients they are paid to protect. As Mike and Sharon craft a daring plan to pull off the greatest heist of all, a determined detective begins to piece together clues that will lead him to this mysterious master thief and a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse ensues.
The star-studded cast is easily the best thing about Crime 101. Chris Hemsworth stars as Mike and delivers a truly surprising and layered performance. At first, I thought Mike would be a stereotypical ‘cool guy’ criminal: sharp suits, well-spoken and effortlessly calm in every situation. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is a far more complicated and, frankly, realistic character. Mike, in fact, is socially awkward in most encounters and panics like a normal human would in the situations he finds himself. As an audience member, I really felt the stress and anxiety he experienced while pulling off his heists. Furthermore, his rule of never harming his victims becomes a central element of his character and introduces some brilliant inner conflict as the stakes get higher and higher. This made for a refreshingly human character and easily one of Chris Hemsworth’s best performances.
Alongside Hemsworth, Halle Berry stars as Sharon the insurance broker. Navigating a midlife crisis and struggling to find meaning in her soul-destroying career, Sharon makes for another surprisingly compelling character. In a plot revolving around expert criminals and devoted detectives you would be forgiven for thinking that the insurance broker might be a boring character, but Halle Berry’s subtle yet effective performance allows the audience to find the most connection with Sharon’s character and relate to her personal struggles.
Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalo delivers a reliably strong performance as Lou Lubesnick, an ageing detective who, like Sharon, is beginning to lose faith in the increasingly corporate nature of the LAPD. With a strong sense of old school integrity, Lou commits himself to solving the riddle of a string of high-value heists that have taken place along the 101 highway. With the rest of his department overlooking these crimes and dismissing his theory that there is a lone wolf behind every one, Lou takes it upon himself to track down the thief while facing ridicule from his colleagues. Ruffalo’s performance is brilliantly believable as he carries himself with a world-weary weight yet maintains a quiet determination burning behind his eyes.
In the midst of this impressive ensemble, Barry Keoghan also stars as Ormon, a fellow thief who is far more reckless in his execution and regularly complicates Mike’s carefully laid plans. Keoghan’s performance is perfectly fine, but as he spends most of his screentime hidden behind a motorbike helmet, he can feel somewhat overshadowed by his co-stars. Finally, seasoned veteran of the screen Nick Nolte stars as crime boss Money in a minor yet memorable performance.
From the opening scene of Crime 101, it is clear that this is a film dripping with style and exuding endlessly cool vibes. With sun-soaked visuals capturing the grit of Los Angeles during the day versus the almost hypnotic flow of red and white lights in dual traffic lanes at night, every frame of this film is a masterclass in cinematography and visual storytelling. Director Bart Layton has crafted a beautifully slick cinematic tale of crime and corruption with a unique style and old-school energy.
I have no real complaints when it comes to Crime 101. The only minor flaw I could possibly find would be, perhaps, a 15-minute window where the plot seemed to drag a bit and the high energy pace of the film seemed to diminish. However, this lull quickly abated and the story picked up again as I found myself on the edge of my seat once more. Overall, Crime 101 is an extremely well-made crime thriller with a stellar cast that feels like a throwback to the best crime capers of old Hollywood.
Film reviewer John Davis is a 24-year-old law student from Ballybrittas
