Crime 101 - Modern Classic

 

Streaming on Amazon Prime

When you think of classic crime stories in cinema, what films come to mind? Some think of John Huston’s The Maltese Falcon from 1941, William Friedkin’s The French Connection from 1971, and Michael Mann’s Heat from 1995; all of which are staples of the film noir and crime story genre. While many other films have tried to emulate or even recreate those classics, most of them couldn’t quite make the cut, either because they forgot to include some kind of likable and tangible quality to some of the criminal characters, or they hire a screenwriter who mistakes dropping a ton of “F” bombs for mature authenticity (the latter of which is featured in today’s subject, but better utilized). 

Bart Layton’s Crime 101 from 2026 succeeds in both taking notes from its classic contemporaries, while maintaining its own individuality. A few scenes may drag on a bit too long here and there, but never to the point of feeling monotonous. It is just enough of a slow burn to feel appropriately moody without feeling pretentious. Plus, it gets bonus points for its subtle commentary on the lack of proper mental health care in this country (more on that in a minute). 

Based on the novella by Don Winslow, the story follows an elite thief named Davis (Chris Hemsworth), who is suddenly dealing with a heist that didn’t go as smoothly as he planned. While he takes some time off to clear his head, Davis starts up an unexpected relationship with a bright girl named Maya (Monica Barbaro), and he seems to want to leave his present life to start a new one with her. All the while dealing with a Detective Lou (Mark Ruffalo) on his case, scouting the potential usefulness of an disgruntled insurance agent named Sharon (Halle Berry), and evading the prying eyes of a loose canon rival named Ormon (Barry Keoghan). All these characters eventually find themselves intertwined in the most unexpected turn of events. 

This film is a fine depiction of a morally ambiguous story that succeeds in reminding audiences the fine line between right and wrong, without preaching or insisting upon any particular ideology; Crime 101 fully understands what makes its genre so intriguing, and present said elements in a fresh yet familiar manner. Even though some aspects of the film have been done before in other movies, especially the ones mentioned earlier, nothing ever feels ripped off or carbon copied. You see the inspiration, but the film still stands on its own. 

The cast is especially fun to watch. Chris Hemsworth gets the opportunity to explore his range as an actor, which Hollywood hasn’t given him much opportunity to do. He demonstrates his ability to play quietly and subtly incredibly well, and does a remarkable job at conveying the characters desire to connect with people, despite lacking an understanding of how such connections can work, likely due to an undiagnosed mental and emotional difference of some kind; something that could have been noticed and better understood in different circumstances, which the film does a remarkable job at highlighting without hitting you over the head. 

The MVP award goes to Halle Berry for reminding us all how much of a powerhouse she still is. She gets the most amount of performance range in the film and she uses every second of her screen time to its fullest potential. Like many great performers, Halle Berry has had a few rough patches (*cough* Catwoman *cough*), but she seems to know how to bounce back and remind us why we enjoy her talent. 

Crime 101 may not be the most “original” of stories, but it is different and well executed enough to earn its place amongst the classics. Don’t let its slow burn pace turn you away; it knows what it’s doing at all times and it likely won’t disappoint. 

Give it a shot. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.