“You’re about to break every rule you ever lived by”
A criminal who follows a strict set of rules is put to the ultimate test when he crosses paths with a disillusioned insurance broker. Presented with the opportunity of a score that would allow him to walk away for good, he must face his inner demons, dangerous criminals, and a tenacious cop closing in on the master thief.
The title Crime 101, based on the Don Winslow novella of the same name, is linked to the Los Angeles freeway used as the criminal’s escape route. It also refers to the terminology relating to a basic or introductory lesson on a topic.
However, saying this film is a basic crime movie is doing it a disservice. Director Bart Layton (The Imposter, American Animals) has delivered a cool, stylish, and thrilling film that manages to escape the rather long shadow of another Los Angeles-based movie…
It is nearly impossible to base a film within the criminal underworld of the City of Angels, without drawing comparisons to Michael Mann’s Heat. It is the benchmark against which all other entries in the genre are measured.
A career thief who lives by a code. The obsessive cop, in the middle of a divorce, chasing him down. The loose cannon criminal who threatens to disrupt everything. Sound familiar?
Familiarity can breed contempt, however, not when you have a cast and crew operating at the top of their game.
Erik Wilson’s cinematography, under Layton’s direction, is exemplary. The camera glides through the streets of L.A. as smoothly as Hemsworth’s Mustang. A nice touch is how the dichotomy of “Mike” and Keoghan’s Ormon is represented through the camera work. When following Mike, it is controlled and precise. Keoghan, however, is shot hand-held, mirroring his erratic and wild behaviour.
Steve McQueen is referenced in a pivotal scene, and Hemsworth radiates an old-school movie star cool, similar to the Cooler King. It is an understated performance that promises a stellar career once he hangs up Mjolner for good. He is ably assisted by strong performances by Barbaro and Berry, as the two key women in his life. The MVP, though, is Mark Ruffalo. He brings so much to a character that could be a caricature of the genre. Instead, fleshing him into someone who evolves from a dishevelled, sad sack of a cop, into a formidable opponent. Leading to a tense, unpredictable finale, as all the main players reach their endgame.
What was it Tarantino said? “I steal from every single movie ever made. Great artists steal, they don’t do homages.” Having cut his teeth on true crime, in both documentary and the “based on a true story” fictionalised take, Crime 101, is proof that Layton is a great artist and the real deal within the genre. The result is a heist movie as slick and polished as one of the rare gems being stolen.
Crime 101 is in cinemas now
Rating: 
Director: Bart Layton
Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Halle Berry
Runtime: 140 minutes
Country: USA
