David R. Walker

Archive for February 22nd, 2026

Crime 101

Director: Bart Layton

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Monica Barbaro, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Corey Hawkins, Tate Donovan

Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes

Film Rating: 7.5 out of 10

American Animals director Bart Layton reunites with Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin) along with Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher, Spotlight, Poor Things) and Oscar winner Halle Berry (Monsters Ball) in the twisty crime thriller Crime 101 set entirely in Los Angeles.

Layton makes the Los Angeles urban landscape with its infinite freeways, it’s glittering skyscrapers, it’s homeless and its fascinating characters almost another character in Crime 101.

Chris Hemsworth stars as the elusive jewel thief Mike who is trying to score a big heist and grab some walk away money as he reluctantly takes orders from his boss Money played by Oscar nominee Nick Nolte (The Prince of Tides, Affliction, Warrior).

Mike soon has competition in the form of the crazy bike riding violent criminal Omon who rips off a high end jewellery store in Santa Barbara. While Mike is trying to figure out his next move, he targets the 53 year old insurance executive Sharon brilliantly played with bitterness and grit by Halle Berry.

The reluctant hero Mike also falls in love with the down to earth Maya, a radiant performance by Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) whose presence lights up the screen in contrast to the surliness of Mike’s character.

Mark Ruffalo is excellent as the well weathered LAPD detective Lou who is trying to identify the perpetrator behind the crime capers along the extensive 101 freeway.

With flashy film noir overtones, Crime 101 is a story about greed, desperation and redemption as writer and director Bart Layton creates a tapestry of morally dubious characters that all converge in a thrilling scene on the 10^th floor penthouse suite of the plush Beverly Wilshire Hotel in L. A.

The best scenes are between Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo whose experience and skill as screen actors shine through.

Crime 101 is a clever and gripping crime drama set along the 101 freeway about thieves, dodgy policeman, ruthless billionaires and an insurance executive desperate to escape corporate misogyny while having access to valuable diamonds.

Director Bart Layton creates an adult thriller, stylish, sexy and intriguing expertly using a cast of multi-generational characters that are multifaceted, malicious and malleable.

Crime 101 gets a film rating of 7.5 out of 10 and is recommended viewing for those that enjoy a film noir contemporary thriller set in Los Angeles. Worth watching for the incredible cast.