Crime 101 (English) Review {2.0/5} & Review Rating
Star Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry
Director: Bart Layton
Crime 101 Movie Review Synopsis:
CRIME 101 is the story of a cop trying to nab a criminal. Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) is an elusive thief who has attempted several high-profile robberies successfully in Los Angeles. His modus operandi is to plan the heist in advance, use a gun and yet not to indulge in violence whatsoever and leave no trace of DNA or fingerprint behind. His latest robbery involves escaping with expensive diamonds, which are being couriered by Ben (Peter Banifaz) and Ali (Babak Tafti). This time, things don't go as planned for Mike. Ali has hidden a gun and he shoots at Mike. Nevertheless, Mike manages to escape. The diamonds belonged to a jeweller named Sammy Kassem (Payman Maadi), and he approaches the insurance company to claim the amount. At the insurance company, his claim is handled by Sharon Coombs (Halle Berry), a 53-year-old single woman who feels she's not getting her due at work. Mike meets Money (Nick Nolte), who gives him his next job – stealing from a jewellery shop in Santa Barbara. Mike declines, citing that it’s too risky. Money is enraged with Mike's refusal and he hires Ormon (Barry Keoghan) to do the job. He also asks Ormon to keep an eye on Mike and even steal from him when he attempts a robbery. Meanwhile, Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) is a detective who is in trouble because he has not been able to solve many cases. However, he’s the only one in the department to correctly figure out which high-profile robberies were committed by Mike, as he can decode his modus operandi. Lou also observes that Mike’s robberies have all taken place along the 101 Freeway. But his senior refuses to buy the theory, and Lou now has to nab Mike at any cost to prove he was right all along. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
Crime 101 Movie Story Review:
CRIME 101 is adapted from a book of the same name by Don Winslow. The story is interesting but also a bit clichéd. Bart Layton's screenplay is breezy and has its share of dramatic moments. But the writing also leaves a lot to be desired. The dialogues are conversational.
Bart Layton's direction is fine. This is not exactly a masala action film and yet, Bart ensures that the film has scale and enough mainstream entertainment. Technically, the film is classy and he also extracts a great performance from the principal cast. Despite a run time of 140 minutes, the film doesn't bore. A few scenes that work big time are the robbery episode of the diamonds in the beginning, Lou correctly guessing Mike's pattern, Mike and Maya's (Monica Barbaro) scenes together, Mike telling the truth to Sharon and the last 15 minutes.
On the flipside, CRIME 101 seems to have a hangover of Ryan Gosling-starrer DRIVE [2011]. The highway angle also gives a déjà vu of DHOOM [2004]. The impact is diluted because of the cinematic liberties. Though the climax is arresting, it is convenient to see how the characters enter the suite floor of a five-star hotel where a wealthy guest with loads of money is put up. Lastly, the awareness is negligible.
Crime 101 Movie Review Performances:
The casting of the film is quite solid. Chris Hemsworth gets the mysterious act right and leaves quite an impression. Mark Ruffalo's role is beaten to death but he brings his own flavour. It's also interesting to see the two superheroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in such a setup. Halle Berry looks stunning and delivers a first-rate performance. Barry Keoghan leaves a mark. Payman Maadi, Peter Banifaz and Babak Tafti do well. Nick Nolte is fair but gets forgotten after a point. Corey Hawkins (Detective Tillman) and Tate Donovan (Steven Monroe) lend able support.
Crime 101 movie music and other technical aspects:
Blanck Mass's background score adds to the tension. Erik Wilson's cinematography is splendid, especially the upside-down shots. Scott Dougan's production design is appealing, the action is realistic and Jenny Eagan's costumes are glamorous. Julian Hart and Jacob Secher Schulsinger's editing is unhurried and it works for the film.
Crime 101 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CRIME 101’s enticing cast and a handful of arresting moments keep viewers invested. However, the film increasingly gets bogged down by cinematic liberties and weak writing, which blunts the tension and impact. Moreover, with fresh Hindi and Hollywood releases vying for screens and attention, it’ll struggle at the box office.