‘Crime 101’ Review
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Nick Nolte, Monica Barbaro, Jennifer Jason Leigh | Written by Bart Layton, Don Winslow | Directed by Bart Layton
Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry co-star in this enjoyable L.A. crime thriller from writer-director Bart Layton (American Animals). Adapted from the novella by Don Winslow and packed with great characters, Crime 101 is a gripping L.A. heist picture with shades of Michael Mann.
Hemsworth plays Davis, a career criminal who meticulously plans his robberies, never hurts anyone and only hits establishments on Route 101, so as to facilitate an easy getaway. His modus operandi has been deduced by LAPD detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo), but his superiors aren’t interested in his theories, causing Lou to go a little rogue in the investigating department. After an opening heist, Davis gets busy planning his time-honoured one last job, as he grows tired of being beholden to his grizzled former mentor Money (Nick Nolte). Meanwhile, disgruntled insurance broker Sharon (Halle Berry) becomes an unwitting link between cop and criminal, as Davis targets her for vital information for his last job, and Lou becomes a member of her yoga class after his wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) leaves him.
Layton’s script is rich in character detail, so that we really get to know these people before everything comes together on a collision course in the final act. Consequently, we fully understand the complexities behind each character’s actions, and the end result is extremely satisfying. In addition, the script is meticulously plotted, with various set-ups and pay-offs that are immensely pleasurable to watch. Indeed, it’s the sort of script that rewards close attention to detail, particularly with regard to Ruffalo’s character.
The performances are excellent. Hemsworth is cast intriguingly against type, in that he strips away his effortless charm and humour, in favour of something edgier. The upshot of that is the trademarked Hemsworth smile (and the accompanying twinkle in his eye) is absent from the performance, and it works surprisingly well, although you do also have to swallow the idea that Chris freaking Hemsworth would somehow be awkward and nervous around women.
Ruffalo is on terrific form too, shambling around like a modern-day Columbo and seemingly the only honest cop in the entire LAPD. Similarly, Halle Berry is superb as Sharon, boiling with anger at her male chauvinist pig bosses who keep delaying her long-promised promotion…though again, the same film that asks us to believe Chris Hemsworth is useless with women also wants us to believe that Halle Berry would be considered past it.
In addition, there’s strong raspy-voiced support from Nolte, while Barry Keoghan is superbly cast as Ormon, who’s effectively Crime 101’s unpredictable wild card. A blond-haired, motorbike-riding protege of Money’s, Ormon is decidedly trigger-happy and given to making snap decisions and messing everything up, all of which comes to a head in the thrilling final act.
In short, Crime 101 is enormously satisfying from beginning to end – indeed, it’s a testament to the script, the performances and Layton’s assured direction that the two hour twenty minute running time rockets past like nobody’s business. More thrillers like this please, Hollywood.
**** 4/5
Crime 101 is in cinemas now.
