American Animals (2018) director Bart Layton’s latest film, Crime 101, marks another confident step away from his documentary roots and deeper into polished narrative crime cinema. That non-fiction background still shapes his storytelling style in the best way. His new film feels patient, observant and grounded in small, telling details rather than flashy excesses.
The story follows Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth), a meticulous diamond thief whose surgical strikes along California’s 101 freeway have finally drawn the attention of relentless local cop Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo). The game changes when Sharon Colvin (Halle Berry), a seasoned insurance broker, finds herself implicated in Mike’s latest heist. Featuring another tour-de-force performance from Barry Keoghan as violent career criminal Ormon, the film becomes a high-octane game of cat and mouse that manages to feel original despite borrowing from classics of the genre.
Veteran actor Nick Nolte also makes a memorable appearance as ruthless mob boss, Money. Meanwhile, Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick, A Complete Unknown) puts in another impressive performance as Mike’s love interest, Maya.
As Mike orchestrates his final, most ambitious heist, frayed alliances and hidden agendas threaten to dismantle the operation. Layton builds the tension with expert patience, steering the narrative toward a revelation that feels both inevitable and earned. The truth is revealed with a deft touch, allowing the audience to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters rather than being spoon-fed the answers.
Hemsworth delivers one of his most restrained performances to date, playing against type as a quiet, calculating figure whose confidence masks deeper vulnerability. Ruffalo is excellent, grounding the film with emotional intensity and giving Lubesnick a sense of lived-in exhaustion and determination. Berry is superb and arguably the film’s standout, delivering a layered, career-defining performance as a professional woman navigating a male-dominated industry while carrying personal frustrations that quietly shape her choices.
The tone is deliberately unhurried and is more than reminiscent of classics such as The Thomas Crown Affair. Layton’s approach may feel measured for viewers expecting constant action, but the pacing proves rewarding. Each scene adds another piece to the puzzle, maintaining engagement through subtle shifts in perspective and carefully constructed suspense.
Crime 101 is a confident, intelligent crime thriller driven by strong performances and a director who clearly trusts his audience. It’s stylish without being showy, thoughtful without becoming inaccessible, and ultimately a gripping watch that lingers thanks to its nuanced characters and carefully crafted storytelling.
