Heist films live and die by getting their schemes and point across to audiences without boring them. But what if instead of obnoxious jump cuts and licensed music blaring through montages, you instead get a well-told narrative that organically flows through while dishing out said heist(s) without much exposition?

Such is the case of new Bart Layton-directed Crime 101, his first film post-pandemic since American Animals was 2018. I’ll say that the man’s long break from doing big-budget work did him some good, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Thick As Thieves

The story starts off with a thief named Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) who commits victimless crimes. He steals jewels but doesn’t harm anyone, justifying his act as robbing the rich, the schemers like insurance folks, and any entity similar; a Robin Hood-type looking for “walkaway money” via a final big job. He’s pretty good at doing this, since there’s an ageing cop Lou (Mark Ruffalo) who is chasing him while being put on the lower pedestal by his precinct.

We also have Sharon (Halle Berry), a 53-year old high-end insurance broker who has been with her company a lot longer than she should, clearly getting the shaft promotion-wise. All three leads here with have their paths crossed in one major heist from Mike and his mentor Money (Nick Nolte in his raspiest role yet), further complicated by wild card criminal Ormon (Barry Keoghan) who may replace the young pro.

If anything, this film is clearly influenced by Michael Mann films from its shots to its lingering pans. Everything in Crime 101 oozes style and emulates the best parts of a late 90s and early 2000s crime show, but in a more concise and refreshing way. This film’s vistas and pacing does make me consider revisiting Los Angeles, even its rough neighbourhoods.

Of course, the heavy lifting is done by its veteran actors in the show’s casting which equally is on par with the show’s production and shooting budget. Chris Hemsworth’s criminal wiles is offset by his social awkward tendencies, going so far as to have his first meaningful relationship starting from an accident with bystander Maya (Monica Barbaro).

Mark Ruffalo’s Lou captures the “I’m too old for this s***” schtick really well combined with his earnest sense of justice within a clearly corrupted LA precinct led by Hollywood-grade douchebag higher-ups. Halle Berry’s portrayal of a frustrated insurance broker who eventually blows up figuratively deserves praise just for her perseverance and patience in a hostile corporate world. The show’s title isn’t just a reference to the robberies along the 101 route, but also how Lou and Sharon end up being dirty due to the circumstances they’re in, and whether that shows in their future actions, or even take the moral high ground in the corrupted city they’re in.

Bright Noir, Big City

A crime caper this safe doesn’t have any right to be this stylish and meaningful. Crime 101 is a fascinating watch for its personality, its pacing, and its vistas and shots of bleak-and-morally-grey-but-still-hopeful Los Angeles.

A heist movie with heart isn’t that easy to come by in this day and age of attention span-deficient entertainment. But in the case of Crime 101, even with its arguably Hollywood ending, you can have style AND substance hand-in-hand when you have a script, direction, and characters this engaging.

Final Score: 80/100