Crime 101 Movie Review: Marries stunning spectacle with nuanced characterisation

Crime 101 Movie Review:

The con artist with a conscience. The thief with a heart. Writer-director Bart Layton's Crime 101 uses these conventional Hollywood archetypes for a compelling, albeit somewhat familiar, story about morally complex people in Los Angeles at a crossroads in life. Few characters in this world embody these traits more than Chris Hemsworth's Mike does. For instance, when a car flips as Mike traverses the LA freeways while tailing a violent ruffian, the first thing he does is express concern for the other, unaffected motorists. It is a beautiful moment in this mostly taut thriller that takes its characters and the audience for a spin around the freeways of LA with plenty of panache while exploring their inner lives with nuance. 

The plot is quintessential Hollywood. Like some iconic thieves from classic noir, Mike seeks one last job to leave his violent ways behind. His target? A wealthy man with money from crooked and corrupt sources who plans to give out millions in cash to his wedding guests. However, the job is not easy for Mike. It tests his adherence to his moral code like few other jobs before. Not that Mike wants to make amends for himself, because at some level, Hemsworth’s performance gives you the impression that the thief feels justified to an extent for his crimes. After all, he has a ‘no violence’ code that he sticks to with great diligence. However, the same modus operandi gets him into trouble with a law enforcement official (Mark Ruffalo) who has a keen eye for detail.

Director: Bart Layton

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan

The straightforward story arc with some convenient writing on occasion never becomes a deterrent because of Layton's seamless staging of confrontations, some pulsating action sequences, and the top-notch performances across the board. At some level, every character bar some in Layton's film operates with a moral compass. As for Hemsworth’s Mike, the man has a guarded aura about him that makes it virtually impossible even for his girlfriend (Monica Barbaro) to figure him out. For her, it is a red flag that he cannot maintain constant eye contact or has no photograph of his family. Even Halle Berry's insurance broker figures out that Mike is too 'squeaky clean' for his own good. Then again, Mike knows his people. Hemsworth plays the part with a sense of assurance and a boyish charm that makes you overlook Mike's ‘rough around the edges’ nature. This allows Layton to avoid a traditional backstory, letting Hemsworth’s performance define the character’s history. Hemsworth is superb especially in moments where Mike recedes into solitude and thinks deeply about his choices. The compassion is evident in his eyes.

The only character who does not appear as mysterious as the rest or who offers the most transparent look at her life is Berry's insurance broker. She is a single woman with a great deal of insecurity about her ability to persuade people, even though she is unquestionably adept at it. When she falters big time while attempting to persuade a client, she gets anxious about her job. It is a clever character detail that comes back when the agent tries to persuade the kind of man and broker the type of deal from which there is no coming back.

The film explores in detail how the world of insurance works as well. It is a rat race for clients where the only way to stay up is to suck up to the top management. Berry performs the role with great agility, although you wish some of Layton's writing choices for her were better. For example, it does not seem convincing enough when Berry's boss insinuates that her age of 50-plus is a deterrent to his potential insurance clients. Now, this is hard to buy, especially with Halle Berry being the single, independent woman that she is, and given the star image that the actor has built over the years. After all, it is Berry we are talking about, the Bond girl of Die Another Day and the femme fatale-like figure of Swordfish. Thankfully, Berry's performance makes you look past these rough edges and concentrate on the goings-on.

Thankfully, Barry Keoghan as a psychopathic biker and Nick Nolte as a menacing fixer give the principal cast ample support. That said, the standout here is Mark Ruffalo as a detective dealing with a relationship breakup. The wonderfully instinctive Ruffalo wins you over whether he ruffles up the bad guys onscreen or shares an embrace with someone. Ruffalo's detective speaks volumes with his minute expressions that let you know everything you want to know about him and his dynamic with the rest. When Ruffalo and Hemsworth finally meet, it is an iconic moment that reminds you of some great Hollywood classics, sans their memorable collaborations from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If you are being pedantic, some of Layton's writing for Ruffalo's detective is questionable, especially the freedom with which he operates even under suspension. The climax is also a tad convenient, particularly considering how Layton sets you up for it with his writing. Then again, for the most part, the writer-director hits the right notes in Crime 101— a film that is so at ease whether it zips through LA's freeways or takes a detour to slip into the inner worlds of its characters. Those who appreciate a human touch in thrillers will find it hard to dismiss it.