A One Mann’s Movies review of “Crime 101”. (2026, 4.5*, 15).
I’ve seen comparisons between this film and Uncle Michael’s 1995 classic “Heat“. (No, honestly, Michael Mann IS no relation). That’s a film that I embarrassingly only saw for the first time last July, and loved. And I can see how those comparisons work. Like “Heat”, “Crime 101” is intricately plotted, with no strand feeling unnecessary or redundant; it has superb cinematography (with a nod to “Bullitt”); and it has an excellent cast that really gel together.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Like Hannibal Hayes and Kid Curry (a reference for older readers there!), David (Chris Hemsworth) is a professional thief that likes to exercise his craft without physically injuring anyone. He uses his brain to meticulously plan every jewellery heist, leaves no evidence at the scene, gets away scot-free down Highway 101 (never more than a mile away from the crime scene), and fences his stolen goods securely through trusted contact Money (Nick Nolte). But life gets complicated when dogged detective Lou (Mark Ruffalo) starts getting close and when his loner-life is disrupted by the attractive presence of Maya (Monica Barbaro).
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Strong language, threat, violence, sex references”.)
Talent:
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tate Donovan, Monica Barbaro.
Directed by: Bart Layton.
Written by: Bart Layton. (Based on the novella by Don Winslow.)
Running Time: 2h 20m.
Summary:
Positives:
- Bart Layton does a phenomenal job with a perfectly woven script.
- Superb cinematography by Erik Wilson.
- The ensemble cast are perfect.
Negatives:
- A third reel decision by Lou feels out of character.
Full Review of “Crime 101”:
A script that makes 140 minutes zing by.
It’s a great compliment to a 2 hour 20 minute film that it really didn’t feel like such a long film. I wouldn’t have been surprised if you had told me it was 100 minutes long.
The film’s first reel, with its initial heist to maintain interest, also nicely introduces us to all of the characters: Hemsworth’s icy loner; Ruffalo’s pig-headed cop with his disintegrating marriage to his wife Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh); and the hard-working Sharon (Halle Berry), always getting over-looked for executive promotion (a theme we return to with my next review, “Send Help”!).
The film weaves these stories together beautifully (emphasised by some extremely unlikely shots of the characters in close proximity to each other in a busy LA!).
My one question is, who is writer/director Bart Layton and why hasn’t he played a bigger part on the cinema stage?? With work like this, he should be a well-recognised name!
A love angle that adds rather than subtracts.
As if the plot wasn’t complex enough, the rear-ending of David’s car by the insanely attractive Maya (a strong female-character played by Monica Barbaro… Joan Baez in “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere“) brings a love story sub-plot into the film that I really feared would derail the plot. But this too is incorporated beautifully and adds depth and context that I wasn’t expecting.
A Jan de Bont level of driving excitement.
We’ve already seen some wonderful driving-based cinematography this year with the Oscar-hopeful “One Battle After Another“. But hot on its tyre-smoking heels is this work by Erik Wilson (“Paddington 2“; “Better Man“; “The Double“). The car chase sequences in this film, of which there are a few, are all executed just beautifully and are reminiscent – with their tarmac-hugging camera shots – of the Steve McQueen film classic “Bullitt”, a film that is actually acknowledged through some of the film’s dialogue!
It all adds to some extremely thrilling footage and that’s coming from this film critic that tends to yawn loudly when a film pitches in “yet another car chase”.
Superb casting.
It’s early in the year for awards chatter, but the casting director, Avy Kaufman, is a name I would throw into the mix. It’s unusual to find a film where the casting feels just so perfect.
Hemsworth, whose film-choices outside of his Thor role have been a bit variable, absolutely nails this as the cool, calculating, sexy Thomas Crown-type; Mark Ruffalo is one of those actors who is just about perfect in every film he touches (and he is vocal about f***ing hating Trump, which is another plus point!); Halle Berry, who is actually an amazing-looking 59 but here playing an ‘over the hill’ 53-year old!, gives her best performance for many years; and Barry Keoghan plays a memorably psychotic hoodlum: you know shit is going to kick-off every time you see him!
Outside the main cast, Monica Barbaro again confirms herself a talent to watch moving forwards. It is also great to see the familiar face of Tate Donovan getting a meatier role than he has recently been seen in.
One script mis-step.
I have very little to criticise with this film. I enjoyed it enormously. The only element that registered a sour note with me is a decision made by Lou (Ruffalo) – no spoilers – in the third reel that seemed out of character. I understand (via a police shooting) the disillusionment that might have led to it. But I still don’t think that the script did enough of the heavy-lifting to lead to the action.
Summary Thoughts:
A really engaging heist movie that is well-plotted, well-cast and delivers the goods. Very much recommended.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5y-cziwmMw.
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