Die-hard fans of Michael Mann's cinema — "Thief", "Heat" — will take delight in filmmaker Bart Layton's venture into similar territory. You'll see visual and thematic nods throughout the film. However, it has a distinct energy and tone that veers from the darker and cynical trajectories of Mann's films. Based on Don Winslow's novella, "Crime 101" is pulsating with nervous energy from the get-go.
Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Barry Keoghan, Peyman Maadi (”A Separation”), and others inhabit a space that's harsh, unfair, and offers little space for the honest, idealist, and structure-loyal folks and instead favours the unscrupulous kind more. The character sketches are all clearly drawn. Every actor and significant character is given the necessary space to flesh out their characters in such a manner that one is thoroughly invested in what happens to one or more characters, regardless of which side of the law they operate on.
Some of the characters have qualities that seem familiar to us from iconic crime films of the past, but with a fresh twist. It's as though Crime 101 is, for both Layton and Winslow, an opportunity to explore what would've happened if the most endearing and relatable characters in "Heat" or "Thief" lived in an alternate reality, with an outcome different from what we expect from the Mann films. There is much that Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth) has in common with Robert De Niro's Neil McCauley. The same can be said of Mark Ruffalo's Det. Lou Lubesnick, who shares some character traits with Al Pacino's Vincent Hanna. But they are also not the same characters, because McCauley and Hanna wouldn't have made the same choices as these guys do here because, after all, it's not... a Michael Mann film.
The premise is built around the interesting idea of one man committing several robberies in the same area — Los Angeles' US 101 highway, which serves as a bridge to neighbouring cities — and the complications that arise when one's principles are taken for granted by different parties. Mike is a lone wolf, and so is Lou. And then there's Halle Berry's Sharon Combs, an insurance broker who is not given the respect and position that's due to her after more than a decade of service.
Berry gets an exhilarating scene in a crucial juncture towards the third act, which finds an appropriate outlet for years of repressed feelings. She is to "Crime 101" what Pam Grier was to "Jackie Brown". Her eventual involvement with Mike and Lou teases complicated outcomes. And, of course, the woman seems to be getting more gorgeous with every passing year (she is 59!)
The film's narrative structure is a showcase for some delightful match cuts, demonstrating some neat contrasts between the three characters that are cleverly incorporated at the most suitable junctures, reinforcing the impression that they are all kindred spirits in one way or another.
Barry Keoghan's Ormon is the Joker-type figure in this story — a powder keg of a character who wreaks havoc wherever he goes. The cinematographic choices are calibrated to mirror the energy of the characters during high-stakes, high-intensity scenarios. Calm and steady when following the actions of Mike; jittery and mobile in the case of Ormon. Two robberies with contrasting moods and tempos demonstrate this perfectly.
Monica Barbaro, as Maya, is a warm and welcome presence in Mike's life, who is hoping to see him break his shell and present his true self. Her interactions with Mike will recall for some the James Caan-Tuesday Weld diner scene in "Thief".
Ruffalo's performance might evoke a few elements of what he did in the recent HBO series "Task" and, of course, "Zodiac", but as always, the actor brings something new to the table, as do Hemsworth, Berry, and Keoghan. If you're the sort who prefers their crime films to have multiple characters with screwed-up personal lives and multiple moments where they are caught in contemplative moments inside an office or living room overlooking a cityscape or a beach when they are not in the middle of high-speed chases, then "Crime 101" is the film you're looking for.
Film: Crime 101
Director: Bart Layton
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Barry Keoghan, Peyman Madi
Rating: 4/5