‘Crime 101’: A Slick LA Heist Thriller That’s Exactly What You’d Expect But Longer

‘Crime 101’ hits the freeway with style, tension, and ambition, but amid slick visuals and morally tangled characters, it struggles to fully deliver the high-octane ride it teases.

Directed by Bart Layton, this crime thriller follows Davis (Chris Hemsworth), an elusive thief aiming the score of a lifetime along Los Angeles’ 101 freeway.

When his latest job goes awry, he’s ready to get out, but his long-time fence has other plans. Along the way, his path collides with Sharon (Halle Berry), a disillusioned insurance broker, and Lou (Mark Ruffalo), a sharp, relentless detective determined to crack the case.

The stage is set for a tense cat-and-mouse story, balancing heist thrills with character-driven drama, and that sort of comes through—mostly in motion and energy—but underneath, it’s as formulaic as its title suggests.

Hemsworth fits the part perfectly, at times looking as if he’s stepped straight out of a luxury watch ad. Yet his meticulous, torn and socially awkward Davis has a depth that unexpectedly makes him one to root for—more so than his action-heavy fare—though he does feel a bit reminiscent of Ryan Gosling in Drive.

Alongside him, Berry is magnetic, bringing sly warmth and clever energy to Sharon, even if the script doesn’t always give her room to shine.

Ruffalo seems to be made for the weary, righteous cop part as he effortlessly sinks into the role, though the cat-and-mouse tension never quite sparks as it could have, save for one brief but promising tête-à-tête.

Barry Keoghan shines as Ormon, the fence’s blonder, unorthodox back up, delivering delightfully maniacal in a way that only he could pull off.

Monica Barbaro, as Davis’ love interest is another surprising highlight. Even in limited screen time, she ups the emotional stakes and makes the otherwise inconsequential romance believable—so much so that I wish I’d seen more of it.

Visually, the film is stunning, at times leaning on style to carry when nothing particularly new is happening

Los Angeles itself does as much work as the cinematography does, gliding from one scene to the next in a way that almost hypnotises.

Sun-soaked streets, sleek interiors and imperceptible transitions make the city a living part of its caper, connecting them all.

The film’s biggest problem is pacing. Too much time is spent on characters that feel thinly drawn, leaving the heists largely in shadow.

Ultimately, style outweighs substance, though  a better movie lurks beneath.

Still, there’s much to enjoy. Though intermittent the action and classic chase scenes are well executed, and the film is sleek, vibey and strangely hopeful in its themes.

Some may see echoes of Heat, and the film would’ve fit perfectly in the heyday of buzzy LA crime capers—a once overcrowded genre that now feels rare.

The cast and visuals lift it slightly above the rest but it still hits many of the expected beats.

Crime 101 is for heist junkies and anyone who enjoys atmospheric crime thriller with a strong ensemble.

Expect tense chases, style and character-driven intrigue but don’t count on incredibly clever heist mechanics or sustained surprises.

Crime 101 is stylish, occasionally gripping, and anchored by actors you want to watch—Hemsworth in a more nuanced role, Berry sly and magnetic, a satisfyingly gruff Ruffalo, Keoghan gloriously chaotic—yet it leaves you wishing the next getaway were sharper, faster, and more memorable.

★★★

Crime 101 is in theatres now.