Film Review - Crime 101
Images courtesy of Sony Pictures.
The old-school crime-thriller is a rarity these days, or more so, the rarity is when they are executed well. After a glimpse of the trailer for Crime 101, viewers may simply be expecting a generic action film that they might have a bit of fun with, but will ultimately forget. However, they will be pleasantly surprised, as Crime 101 proves itself to be a genuinely engaging heist caper with substance.
Chris Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, an elusive jewel thief who commits his robberies along the 101 freeway in Los Angeles. He’s a clean and tactful criminal, who never uses violence and leaves no evidence behind. He works for a tough old guy named Money (Nick Nolte), who got him out of foster care and into the world of crime. It becomes evident very quickly that Mike was forced into this world, and has never killed anyone on the job. When Mike refuses to take part in a robbery due to it being too risky, Money hires Ormon (Barry Keoghan) to take his place and keep track of him in case he decides to interfere. This motorcycle-riding bleached-blondie is young, inexperienced and trigger-happy, leaving a mess wherever he goes. Running out of options, Mike comes across insurance broker Sharon (Halle Berry), who works for wealthy clients. She’s been at her firm for over a decade, but still hasn’t had any career advancement due to the boys club culture there. She teams up with Mike and gives him inside information on one of her client’s jobs, both of them hoping to score. Meanwhile, seasoned Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) notices a pattern in Mike’s heists, dubbing him the 101 robber, and believes he knows where he will strike next. Lou’s co-workers think he is wasting his time and chasing a dead end, but Lou relentlessly trails Mike regardless.
Crime 101 will grab the attention of viewers from the get-go, as the film kicks off with an extended and carefully paced heist scene that instantly pulls you into Mike’s gritty and dangerous world. It is impressively slick and stylish in production, with a striking noir tone that is deeply grounded in its L.A. setting both narratively and visually. Leaning more towards a crime story than an all-out action affair, set pieces such as elaborate car chases don’t feel manufactured. Instead, they feel realistic and thoughtfully orchestrated as they push the plot along. With overstylised action not being the priority, the characters really have space to breathe, and feel well-rounded. With an all-star cast of A-listers, everyone is expectedly doing excellent work here. Hemsworth delivers an effectively nuanced yet impactful turn, and Ruffalo is a standout as always. Monica Barbaro, who shone in A Complete Unknown, brings great energy and light to her scenes as Mike’s suspecting girlfriend Maya. Technical aspects and acting performances are also matched with tension that is sustained throughout, leading up to a very well crafted climax. The film is a tad long, and could have gotten into the meat of the story sooner, which might have helped to elevate and tighten the script as a whole.
Overall, Crime 101 is a welcome surprise, and a must watch for fans of thoughtful, entertaining and intelligent crime-thrillers.
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Crime 101 is screening in cinemas now.