When I saw the description of the film, I was highly interested. With Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo involved, I had high hopes for the acting. I also really like heist films and was hoping the film would be as good as it looked. After watching the film, I found the high stakes drama intense, the acting excellent and the twists in the plot exciting. 

Crime 101 is a crime thriller film written and directed by Bart Layton, based on the 2020 novella of the same name by Don Winslow. Jewel thief Mike Davis’ (Chris Hemsworth) heists along the 101 freeway have left police baffled, he is careful, plans well and never hurts his targets. He has his sights set on the ultimate score but soon finds himself entangled with a love interest, Maya (Monica Barbaro). His plans also intersect with an insurance broker Sharon Combs (Halle Berry) and a veteran police detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo). In the process of planning his big score, Mike also runs afoul of his fence Money (Nick Nolte) who sets another thief on him, Orman (Barry Keoghan), who is psychotic and messy. Lou is determined to bring him down but will he or will Orman ruin Mike’s plans?  

While the film builds slowly, setting up Mike as a thief and introducing the major players, it does so in a very intense way, building the pace and tension. It also allows time for us to see underneath the surface of Mike’s personality, as he gets to know Maya but also allows time for us to see hints of who he truly is, intense but also awkward, someone who is controlled, intelligent but also lonely. It is the depiction of Mike and the way Lou unfolds the patterns of his work that create such an intriguing plot. The very human drama that Sharon faces in her work but also the relationship between Mike and Maya as well as Lou navigating work politics creates an interesting dynamic to the movie.

I love the details, how we see how much planning Mike puts into his heist, how each element comes together to create his opportunity. The film also gives us subtle details, like the lack of pictures in his home, highlighting the barrenness of his life. We get to see the unfolding of Lou’s life as well, how he is dealing with a separation and lack of respect at work and how Sharon is being passed over for a partnership for the company she works for. Each element adds a layer to the drama and adds tension to the story.

The action sequences are intense. There is a motorcycle-car chase between Mike and Orman that is brutal, fast and breathtaking. It illustrates the intensity of both characters, as well as the psychotic nature of Orman and his unwillingness to walk away. He is violent and Mike has to threaten him to try to keep him at bay. There is another scene at the end that is equally powerful and dramatic, adding to the thriller aspects of the film.

The performances are tight, especially Chris Hemsworth. His portrayal of Mike is controlled and subtle, giving us hints to the trauma underneath the character. Mike Ruffalo portrays Lou as intelligent but also caring especially when he interacts with Sharon Comb and the dynamic between him and Halle Berry is warm. Halle Berry’s performance is emotional and strong, especially when she confronts the men at her workplace. Monica Barbaro has a sweet chemistry with Chris Hemsworth, giving a believable portrayal as his love interest, adding drama with her character’s willingness to be vulnerable. Barry Keoghan is incredible, intense as Orman.

For me, I love the slow build of the movie as it increases the stakes and the tension but there are points that it might be too slow for some audiences, especially as a longer film. But the intensity of the performances, the well written story with rich details creates a film that kept me completely engaged in the movie and created a high stakes drama well worth watching.

If you like high stakes drama, crime thriller movies and heist films, I would watch this one in the theaters. Chris Hemsworth plays his character with control and tight subtlety. The other performances by Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry are intense and emotional. The film is taut, intense and absorbing with tons of layers and details that will keep the audience guessing. And with a final twist at the end, this movie has a great ending that I loved.

Rating: 4.5 cars

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