Crime 101 Review: Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry Deliver a Slick Heist Thriller

Hemsworth leads with cool confidence in Crime 101.

As a heist film, ‘Crime 101’ features everything moviegoers ask for: big stars, decent intrigue, slick action, and a thread that’s easy to follow. It’s not breaking new ground by any means, but it’s the type of non-IP action movie that we have been yearning for in theaters.

Jewel thief Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) has been performing expertly planned heists along California’s Route 101. He leaves no evidence, doesn’t hurt anyone, and always hits locations with a close exit to the highway. Mike plans one last big heist with the help of insurance broker Sharon Colvin (Halle Berry), but Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) has pieced together enough of Mike’s pattern that he might be on to him.

The film really excels during the heists and action scenes. The car chases in particular are thrilling and smooth, while the heists themselves are tense and well-executed. There’s nothing here that will go down in the annals of film history. Still, it’s comfortable territory for those who enjoy the films of Michael Mann or Steven Soderbergh, both of which director Bart Layton clearly takes inspiration from.

Cast Highlights: Hemsworth and Berry

Hemsworth portrays Mike as most comfortable in the midst of a job. Normal day-to-day human interaction, on the other hand, comes as a bit more of a challenge. At one point, Mike strikes up a new relationship with Maya (Monica Barbaro), and their relationship is one of the film’s plot points that audiences may bump on. There’s some chemistry there, but Mike is just so darn awkward that it’s a bit perplexing why Maya would want to spend time with him – other than the fact that Mike looks like, well, Thor.

Regardless of Mike’s awkward nature, he still has the charisma only a Hemsworth can provide, and his interactions with Berry’s Sharon Colvin are much more enticing. Berry is quite wonderful as an aging female insurance broker whose male coworkers are reluctant to make her a partner despite her successes. She’s the character who really ties the film together, and Berry was clearly up for the challenge.

Supporting Stars: Ruffalo and Keoghan

Ruffalo is no stranger to playing police officers or detectives, and Detective Lou Lubesnick feels like an aged-up version of the same character he plays in ‘Zodiac’. It’s a comforting presence, and Ruffalo is just so good at balancing the grit and determination of a detective with a soft, approachable persona.

Barry Keoghan is also here as Ormon, a rival criminal to Hemsworth’s Mike. We can just go ahead and put Keoghan in the dirtbag hall of fame now, as he’s just one of the best at playing an absolute menace. He’s a fun foil for Hemsworth and knows how to hit the absolute perfect level of unlikable.

The climax of the film leaves a bit to be desired, as parts of it don’t feel as crisp and clean as we know Mike typically plans. But the great pacing and a plot that never strays too far from the point still leaves it as a tight package.

Verdict

‘Crime 101’ continues the trend of a shockingly great January and February theatrical slate. Amazon MGM Studios has said they plan to release more films in theaters in 2026, and if most of them are as worthy as ‘Crime 101’, then we are in for a great year at the movies.

Crime 101 is now playing in theaters.

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