A month or so when I first saw the trailer for Crime 101 I was pretty uninterested. For most of its runtime it seemed to be the latest in a long line of star studded but sauceless crime dramas that wind up being forgotten as quickly as they arrive. Then at the end of the trailer it was revealed that the film was directed by Bart Layton, immediately changing my outlook on the film. Layton's previous work includes his debut The Imposter, and one of the best films of 2018 in his heist docu-drama American Animals. Here he strays from the docu-drama style and delivers a full blown narrative crime drama reminiscent of Michael Mann's work from the 80s and 90s.
The film follows Mike (Chris Hemsworth), an elusive high profile thief living a lowkey life in Los Angeles. Desperately on his tail is a detective played by Mark Ruffalo, whose obsession with the serial thief has affected not just his career but his marriage as well. In an attempt to pull off a high payout robbery, Mike acquaints himself with Sharon (Halle Berry), an insurance broker for big money clients who finds herself at a crossroads in her career. Thus we are thrown into a crime filled game of cat and mouse as Mike goes for his big score, all while a competitor played by Barry Keoghan tries to cut his way in.
From the opening shot of the film we're thrown into a stylish and cool Los Angeles. Erik Wilson's cinematography mixed with Benjamin John Power's score and an interesting use of voiceovers sprinkled throughout paint an almost dreamlike idea of LA. Everything simply looks and sounds super cool, giving it a tone that brings reminders of Mann's work like Thief and Heat. I wasn't sure how Layton's style of filmmaking would transition to this kind of full blown crime thriller, but one of the biggest highlights for me were the car chases. There's nothing better than a good chase scene and I absolutely loved the way they were shot and cut together here, with some great sound design to boot.
Along with the cast members I mentioned before, the ensemble includes Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, Corey Hawkins, Devon Bostick, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Sadly this large cast means not everyone gets enough time to shine. Jason Leigh in particular is barely in the movie, while Hawkins, Nolte, and Barbaro feel somewhat forgotten about as the film goes on. It's a shame Hawkins didn't get more to do, as I love seeing him on screen, and Barbaro feels like she fits perfectly as a romantic interest for Mike, but after seeming like a main character in the first half of the film she sadly winds up being cast aside for most of the film's runtime.
Barbaro almost works as a stand in for the general issue holding the film back for me, and that's that there are too many elements that just don't get the time to shine. There's a lot going on, and luckily subplots like Berry and Ruffalo's are fleshed out pretty well, but there are ideas and plot threads that feel lost in the shuffle. I really did love the dynamic between Hemsworth and Barbaro, but their relationship doesn't have the space in the second half to deliver. It seems as though Layton also wants to say something about police corruption and the less fortunate in LA, but amidst the big ensemble and sprawling crime drama those ideas fall a bit flat.
Despite not everyone getting enough time in the spotlight the performances are pretty great all around. Ruffalo seems perfectly cast as a down on his luck detective, while Hemsworth leans brilliantly into the Ryan Gosling in Drive kind of quiet action hero. I do wish we got to know a bit more about his character, but I really liked his vibe. This is also the best we've seen Halle Berry in a while, bringing a great blend of confidence and insecurity to her role and offering perhaps the most complex character in the film. I'd also be lying if I said I didn't love Barry Keoghan here, he's just perfect at playing a morally corrupt little weirdo and this is another golden example.
If you like a good crime drama with some fun action and great car chases, I can definitely see this being one you'll enjoy. I did find that the middle act dragged a bit thanks to how many different storylines were going on, but for the most part I was fully locked in to this. The few flaws stop it from being a modern crime classic, but Crime 101 is certainly still worth a watch. 3.5/5
Comments
Post a Comment