Netflix is filled with trite storylines of a smooth jewel thief and his leading lady, most of which usually receive well-deserved 3.5/10 reviews.
Sure, some of those movies star talented actors and are built on massive budgets, but it's rare that they go past the basic “one last heist” storyline.
“Crime 101” is one of few crime thrillers that has a captivating plot, brilliantly casted characters and a deep message.
Adapted from the novella "Crime 101" by Don Winslow and directed by Bart Layton, the movie is set in Los Angeles, CA and follows Mike Davis, a lone thief played by Chris Hemsworth.
When Davis robs a courier and escapes with $5 million in diamonds, Detective Lou Lubsneck, played by Mark Ruffalo, and insurance broker Sharon Coombs, played by Halle Berry, try to track down the missing diamonds.
With each of the character’s facing their own struggles, Layton elevates the plot past the overused “lone gunman” protagonist.
Lubsneck has been tracking Davis for over 12 years and his obsession with finding the connection between Davis’ heists has damaged his career. Coombs has been passed over countless times for a promotion.
Across screeching car chases and dimly lit bars, Layton clearly develops a message that no matter the circumstances of a crime, it follows the person responsible.
Hemsworth brought convincing depth and a brilliant portrayal of an emotional character which was shocking after a decade of CGI stunts in his role as Thor in the Marvel Universe.
Similarly, Ruffalo stepped outside of his Marvel role as the Hulk and took on the persona of a man who has lost everything, searching for the criminal who’s eluded him for almost a decade.
Halle Berry’s role as Coombs was flawless. She added the bittersweet emotion most crime thrillers miss and following her fight to stay honest while surrounded by unethical people made “Crime 101” different from the industry standard.
I would be shocked if Layton didn't have flowers and a handwritten thank you note sent to Berry, because she truly carried the movie.
Anyone who appreciates a film that's more than a romantic shoot-’em-up, should find the time to watch a groundbreaking look at an overdone genre.
Although it's clear "Crime 101" borrowed from some age-old archetypes, the depth that Hemsworth, Berry and Ruffalo brought to their roles in this LA crime noir made it worth smuggling in almonds and plantain chips at the nearest AMC.
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