Crime 101: The Adult Crime Thriller Is Back

They certainly don’t make adult crime thrillers like they used to. Well past their heyday in the 90s, this subgenre has made quite the resurgence and hopefully, Crime 101 is a sign of more to come. Based on the novella of the same name by Don Winslow, the allusions to Michael Mann and ‘Heat’ are hard to miss, but that is not the worst blueprint to go off of. A quintessential ‘dad flick,’ it may not bring much in the way of new to the table, this LA-based twisty-turny crime thriller makes up for that with engaging characters, which is more of a testament to its impressive cast. A series of engaging intertwining stories featuring characters representing both sides of the law, and the grey area in between, all in the midst of a multi-million dollar heist on the near horizon, it is ultimately a tale about those affected by a broken system that has failed them and what they decided to do about it. Filling out the needed ideological pillars, how they evolve over the course of the film, albeit predictably, is still compelling to watch. Perhaps not the flashiest film out there, it succeeds at crafting tension as it throws its characters for a loop for 2+ hours. Arguably a bit too long, some fat could have been trimmed off, but that is merely a minor issue in a watch that still flies by.

Crime 101 follows the principled Mike Davis (Hemsworth), an elusive jewel thief targeting locations alongside the 101 freeway. Mystifying police, LAPD Detective Lou Lubesnick (Ruffalo) believed that he had narrowed down his pattern, much to the chagrin of his colleagues who had their minds set on moving on from his unproductive, detail-oriented methods. Growing increasingly difficult to work with, the eccentric went against their mandate of closing cases and increasing the department’s closure rate. Fed up with those not taking his theories seriously, he decided to run his own investigation into the thief that had become his latest obsession. Davis, simply biding his time until he found his big break, the kind of score that allowed him to walk away, he extensively planned each job, performing each robbery quickly and non-violently with no issues, before retreating back to the 101 without a trace. Coming across Sharon Colvin (Berry), a disillusioned insurance broker working for a firm connected to his latest job, she would direct Mike to the score of a lifetime. Working at the same firm for over a decade and currently the only woman on staff, she found herself routinely looked over by a company that was pushing her further over the edge with every excuse.

The three main characters of this story, the film sets the tone from the start with a cross-cutting montage illustrating how Mike, Lou, and Sharon start their days, with the latter’s relaxation tape preaching about the universe and one’s connection to others (it’s supposed to help Sharon fall asleep but it doesn’t). There is of course more to the characters outside of their connections with one another, given room to breathe as they go about their own issues. However, other than to establish personal stakes, these details were not all that interesting. Aside from the aforementioned Mike and Sharon, Lou’s personality not only rubbed his LAPD colleagues the wrong way, it also led to his divorce with his soon-to-be-ex wife Angie (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Meanwhile, the most fascinating character of the three, Mike, largely remained a mystery, as he kept any personal details close to the vest. Playing on the contrast of circumstances between our characters and the gross excess and decadence of the affluent who don’t care about anything other than getting even richer and climbing further up the social ladder. Leaving plenty of visual hints throughout, the commentary on class warfare pretty much speaks for itself, but the film offers a little more nuance than that. Making Mike the face of that commentary, as he opens up about his past and upbringing and the film dives deeper into his psyche, how he fits in it all becomes more clear.

In the end, all roads lead to one last heist, targeting arrogant billionaire Steven Monroe (Tate Donovan). Leaving Mike with more than enough to walk away from the game, little did he know, he was not the only one pursuing the potential prize. With the tension at an all time high, and as the storylines converged, the film is at its best. Looking to rewrite their own narratives and taking back control of their lives, that would not be without risk. With Lou, and the impulsive and unpredictable Ormon (Barry Keoghan), closing in, audiences will be on the edge of their seats and invested in how it all plays out.

The best part of Crime 101, in addition to the names mentioned, the film boasts an impressive cast in roles big or small, but the highlights are the main three stars in Hemsworth, Ruffalo, and Berry. Showing a different side of himself, Hemsworth maintains his effortless charisma and imposing screen presence while giving Davis some vulnerability once the film began to peel back the layers. Offering audiences fascinating territory to explore, not going further was definitely a missed opportunity. Ruffalo brings a different energy to Lou, giving him a smiley disposition and the kind of snarky intelligence that makes him a delight to watch as he proves wrong those who dare underestimate them. Berry holds her own against Hemsworth and Ruffalo as a woman who knows what she is worth and is no longer willing to be pushed around. Though the story may not be new, the transformation of Mark, Lou, and Sharon from beginning to end makes it all worthwhile.

Crime 101 puts a different spin on the crime thriller, giving it an energy that can’t be denied thanks to strong performances from Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry.

still courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.